This Day in Lakers History: Chick Hearn Becomes First Broadcaster Enshrined in Basketball Hall of Fame
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On Sept. 5, 2003, longtime Los Angeles Lakers play-by-play voice Chick Hearn was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, becoming the first broadcaster ever honored by the Springfield, Massachusetts, shrine.
Hearn’s selection came a little more than one year after his death in August 2002. His association with the Lakers began in 1960, when the franchise relocated from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, and lasted until his passing. During that span, he became famous for a rapid-fire, descriptive style that allowed listeners to “see” the action even when they could not watch it.
Unmatched Durability
From Nov. 21, 1965, through April 2, 2002, Hearn called 3,338 consecutive Lakers games, never missing an assignment for nearly 37 years. He also pioneered the television-radio simulcast, handling both duties simultaneously without altering his delivery.
A Legacy Etched in Staples Center
The Lakers have saluted Hearn by retiring a jersey bearing his name inside Staples Center and erecting a bronze statue of the broadcaster outside the arena. His influence on basketball vocabulary is equally enduring; terms such as “slam dunk,” “airball,” “triple-double,” “finger roll,” “give-and-go,” and “garbage time” all entered the lexicon through his broadcasts.
Career Honors
Beyond Hall of Fame induction, Hearn’s résumé includes the Curt Gowdy Media Award (1993), membership in the American Sportscaster Hall of Fame (1995) and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame (1997), as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Though he is no longer behind the microphone, Chick Hearn’s voice and catchphrases remain woven into Lakers history and the broader language of basketball.
Source: LakersNation.com
