Skip to main content

Bob Costas used to call his own pick-up basketball games while he was playing


Adrian Wojnarowski had NBA legend Rod Thorn on his podcast on Wednesday. And, given that we are in the throes of the Olympics, it's important that we call out the amazing Bob Costas intel Thorn dropped at about the 30 minute mark (the whole thing is worth listening to, though, because Thorn talks about how many players from the '60s would be good today, his current role as a consultant for the Bucks, and much more).

The connection here is that Costas served as the local commentator when Thorn coached the Spirits of St. Louis from 1975-76. Thorn told Wojnarowski that Costas used to provide commentary for his own two-on-two pick-up basketball games, which probably surprises no one, but is nonetheless amazing.

Thorn said:

"Bobby Costas, our play-by-play guy ... He saw himself as a player. And he used to play, like, after practice, before practice. He and the trainer and Gregg Polinsky, myself, we’d play. And Bob never passed, ever. And he had on, you know, like, wristbands up to his — [laughing]. You know, the way guys wear them today, he had that back in those days. Headband. Oh, and long pants. He thought he was a tremendous player."

That's all hilarious, but Wojnarowski wasn't letting Thorn get away without telling us the best part.

Wojnarowski: "Now, Polinksy told me that he did one thing when he was playign those pick-up games that drove you crazy..."

Thorn: "He did a bunch of things that drove me crazy, but the biggest thing is that he would never pass. That was the biggest thing."

Wojnarowski: "But also he would do play-by-plays, he would announce you..."

Thorn: "Oh yeah he'd take a shot and go, '20-footer by Costas!' Bob, shut up! You're losing every game! [laughing] Shut up! Yeah he would do that."

This raises the question: Does Costas still play pick-up? And if so, does he still narrate his own plays? One can only hope.

Simone Biles admits anxiety heading into her first competition since Rio Olympics

Lilly King thwarted her Russian rival again at swimming's world championships

5 reasons to be excited about the Olympics adding mixed events

[presto-gallery id="88500164" title="Every gold medal captured by Team USA" type="presto"]