CHICK HEARN

Chick Hearn is best known as the Los Angeles area sportscaster who was the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, starting with the team in 1961, and continuing for 41 years, until 2002.

Hearn’s on-air style was a focused concentration on play-by-play calling. He was able to call each game with clear and rapid communication, a trademark of his broadcast style.   His style also included a signature vernacular, often repeated and imitated by fans of the team and his broadcasts. Phrase such as “slam dunk”, “air ball”, “no harm, no foul” that have become common basketball vernacular are attributed to Hearn.

Chick Hearn broadcast 3,338 consecutive Lakers games starting on November 21, 1965. Most of Hearn's games were simulcast on both radio and television, even after most teams chose to use different announcers for the different media.

In 2022, Chick Hearn received a Legends induction into the Radio Hall of Fame.