GEORGE BLAHA NAMED 2025 CURT GOWDY MEDIA AWARD WINNER
Michigan Hall of Fame Play-by-Play Announcer and Pistons Legend to Be Presented Award During Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies Taking Place in September
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Detroit Pistons legendary broadcaster George Blaha has been awarded the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award for electronic media. This is the most prestigious award handed out by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to media members who have spent their careers covering the game of basketball.
Blaha, currently serving his 49th NBA season, began his career with the Pistons in 1976 and has called more than 3,700 regular season games and over 260 playoff games. He’s been behind the microphone for the team’s five Eastern Conference Championships, five NBA Finals appearances and all three NBA Championships (89, 90 and 04). From Bob Lanier in 1976 to Cade Cunningham this season, Blaha has been the “Voice of the Pistons” over four decades that have featured hall of fame players, all-stars and three arenas.
Blaha was a 2008 inductee to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of many industry awards, including the Ty Tyson Award for broadcasting excellence by the Detroit Sports Media Association and two-time Michigan Sports Broadcaster of the Year from the National Sportscasters and Sports Writers Association (2003, 2007). His high-energy style has created trademark colloquialisms such as, “two and twenty-two to play”, “a high glass gun that goes” and “count that baby and a foul.”
Active in the Detroit community, his annual “High Hopes” celebrity golf outing for Vista Maria, a home for abused young women in the metropolitan area, has raised over $1 million for the charity. He has also served as the honorary chairman of the annual golf outing for the St. Louis Center for the developmentally disabled. He serves as a spokesperson and fundraiser for the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society, benefiting neglected and abused animals in the City of Detroit and has supported the Inkster Legends free youth basketball camp.
Blaha will be presented with the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award for electronic media during the annual Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies taking place in Springfield, MA on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6, 2025.