- Jeff Twiss Named Recipient of 2025 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award -
SAN FRANCISCO – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the recipients of the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award and John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award at NBA All-Star Weekend.
Legendary Detroit Pistons play-by-play announcer George Blaha, renowned CBS analyst Clark Kellogg, veteran women’s basketball writer Michelle Smith, and influential NBA journalist Adrian Wojnarowski are the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients. Boston Celtics long-time Vice President of Media and Alumni Relations Jeff Twiss is the recipient of the 2025 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Curt Gowdy Media Award is named in honor of the late Curt Gowdy, a legendary sports broadcaster and former Hall of Fame Board member and President. This prestigious award is presented to members of the print, electronic, and transformative media whose efforts have made a significant contribution to the game of basketball.
The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-64, the award honors coaches, players, and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional, and/or the international game.
Blaha, Kellogg, Smith, Wojnarowski, and Twiss will be recognized for their contributions to basketball during the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend on September 5-6. For further details, including ticket information, visit hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2025.
Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award Recipient – George Blaha
George Blaha is a legendary sports broadcaster best known as the voice of the Detroit Pistons, a role he has held since 1976. In his nearly five decades behind the mic, Blaha has called over 3,400 regular-season games and over 260 playoff games.
Blaha has been behind the mic for the Pistons’ five Eastern Conference Championships, five NBA Finals appearances, and all three NBA Championships (1989, ’90, and 2004). His iconic play-by-play calls have made him a beloved figure among Detroit fans and cemented him as one of the most enduring and recognizable voices in the game.
His contributions to sports broadcasting have been widely recognized. In 2002, the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, of which he is an active member, awarded Blaha the Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting. He was honored as the Michigan Sports Broadcaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 2003 and '07, and in 2008 he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award Recipient – Clark Kellogg
Clark Kellogg is a renowned basketball analyst and former professional player, best known for his work as a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports. Kellogg joined CBS Sports in 1993 and has been a part of its NCAA Tournament coverage for more than three decades. He served as studio co-host for early-round tournament coverage from 1994-97 before joining CBS Sports full time in 1997 as both a studio and game analyst for college basketball regular-season games and March Madness. His deep knowledge of the game, signature enthusiasm, and coining of ‘spurtability’ - describing a team’s ability to go on a substantial scoring run - have made him a fan favorite. In 2008, Kellogg replaced Billy Packer as CBS’s lead college basketball analyst, calling the Final Four and National Championship games alongside Jim Nantz until he returned to the studio in 2014.
Kellogg began his career in broadcasting shortly after ending his NBA career, signing on with his former team, the Indiana Pacers, as a radio analyst before making his television debut with Cleveland State University. In 1988, he joined ESPN, providing analysis for college basketball games and contributing to the Big East Network and Prime Sports. That same year, he became a TV analyst for the Pacers, a role he held until 2012.
Curt Gowdy Print Media Award Recipient – Michelle Smith
Michelle Smith is an esteemed sports journalist and author whose career has been dedicated to elevating women’s sports coverage. A trailblazer in the industry, Smith has written extensively on women’s basketball and other sports for ESPN, the San Francisco Chronicle, AOL Fanhouse, and ESPNw, among others.
In 1996, Smith made history as ESPN.com’s first regular women’s basketball columnist, shaping national coverage of the game. Her insightful reporting and compelling storytelling have spotlighted generations of athletes, coaches, and programs, contributing to the growth and visibility of women’s sports. Smith’s most notable accomplishments include her annual coverage of the Women’s Final Four basketball tournament for various outlets, including ESPN, The Next, and the WNBA. She has also penned four children’s books that have introduced young readers around the country to top female athletes and their inspiring stories.
In 2015, she was inducted into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame, was the 2017 recipient of the Jake Wade Media Award from the Collegiate Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA), and was the Mel Greenberg Media Award winner by the WBCA in 2019. Smith was also inducted into the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Hall of Fame in 2024.
Smith currently serves as the Senior Director of Media Relations at her alma mater, San Jose State University.
Curt Gowdy Insight Award Recipient – Adrian Wojnarowski
Adrian Wojnarowski was a prominent sports journalist best known for his unparalleled NBA coverage and breaking news scoops, earning him the nickname "Woj." Wojnarowski began his career as a senior in high school, working for the Hartford Courant and continuing during his college breaks. In 1989, while attending St. Bonaventure University, he began interning with the Olean Times Herald, where the sports department tasked him with writing highly critical pieces about his university's basketball team. After graduating from college, he wrote for smaller newspapers before becoming a columnist for the Fresno Bee in 1995.
In 1997, he moved to The Record in New Jersey, where he earned the Associated Press Sports Editors’ Columnist of the Year award in 1997 and 2002. During that time, his work also appeared regularly on ESPN.com. In 2006, he published his New York Times bestseller, The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty, which further cemented his reputation as a storyteller.
In 2007, Wojnarowski left The Record and joined Yahoo! Sports, where his rapid-fire breaking news scoops, dubbed ‘Woj Bombs,’ made him an internet sensation. His speed and accuracy turned him into a highly respected figure in sports journalism, with fans eagerly awaiting his next major announcement, often reacting with "nuclear explosion" gifs.
On July 1, 2017, Wojnarowski joined ESPN, just ahead of the NBA free agency period. He made his ESPN debut on the midnight edition of SportsCenter. He went on to win three consecutive National Sportswriter of the Year awards from the National Sports Media Association (2017-19).
On September 19, 2024, Wojnarowski announced that he would step away from journalism to become the general manager of the men’s basketball team at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure University, marking the end of his legendary media career.
John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient – Jeff Twiss
Jeff Twiss is a distinguished figure in sports public relations, known for his longstanding tenure with the Boston Celtics. He began his career with the Celtics in 1981 after receiving his Master’s Degree in Sport Management at UMass Amherst and now serves as the Vice President of Media Services and Alumni Relations.
Twiss has led the Celtics PR staff through 40 post-season experiences, including nine Eastern Conference Finals appearances, seven NBA Finals appearances, and four NBA Championships (1984, ‘86, ‘08, ‘24).
Over the years, Twiss has been instrumental in shaping the team's public image and fostering relationships with the media and alumni. In 1987, Twiss was elected by his peers to serve as President of the National Basketball Public Relations Directors Association. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Vermont in 1992 and the University of Massachusetts Sports Management Department’s Harold J. VanderZwaag Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999.
Twiss was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004, honored with the NBA’s McHugh/Splaver “Tribute to Excellence” award in 2005, and recognized by the Boston Press Photographer’s Association as the Sports Personality Award winner in 2009. On September 18, 2024, he received the International Sports Heritage Association Legacy Award.
Previous Curt Gowdy Media Award Recipients:
Print/Electronic/Transformative/Insight
1990 - Dick Herbert/Curt Gowdy
1991 - Dave Dorr/Marty Glickman
1992 - Sam Goldaper/Chick Hearn
1993 - Leonard Lewin/Johnny Most
1994 - Leonard Koppett/Cawood Ledford
1995 - Bob Hammel/Dick Enberg
1996 - Bob Hentzen/Billy Packer
1997 - Bob Ryan/Marv Albert
1998 - Larry Donald & Dick Weiss/Dick Vitale
1999 - Smith Barrier/Bob Costas
2000 - Dave Kindred/Hubie Brown
2001 - Curry Kirkpatrick/Dick Stockton
2002 - Jim O’Connell/Jim Nantz
2003 - Sid Hartman/Hot Rod Hundley
2004 - Phil Jasner/Max Falkenstien
2005 - Jack McCallum/Bill Campbell
2006 - Mark Heisler/Bill Raftery
2007 - Malcolm Moran/Al McCoy
2008 - David DuPree/Bob Wolff
2009 - Peter Vecsey/Doug Collins
2010 - Jackie MacMullan/Joe Tait
2011 - Alexander Wolff/Jim Durham
2012 - Sam Smith/Bill Schonely
2013 - John Feinstein/Eddie Doucette
2014 - Joe Gilmartin/John Andariese
2015 - Rich Clarkson/Woody Durham
2016 - David Aldridge/Jay Bilas
2017 - Harvey Araton/Craig Sager
2018 - Andy Bernstein/Doris Burke
2019 - Marc Stein/Ralph Lawler
2020 - Michael Wilbon/Mike Breen/Inside the NBA/Jim Gray
2021 - Mel Greenberg/Mike Gorman/George Kalinsky
2022 - M.A. Voepel/Walt Frazier/Dick Ebersol
2023 - Holly Rowe/Marc Spears/CBS Sports
2024 - Debbie Antonelli/J.A. Adande/”NBA Inside Stuff”/SLAM Magazine
Previous John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients:
1973 - John Bunn
1974 - John Wooden
1975 - J. Walter Kennedy
1976 - Henry P. Iba
1977 - Clifford B. Fagan
1978 - Curt Gowdy
1979 - Eddie Gottlieb
1980 - Arnold "Red" Auerbach
1981 - Ray Meyer
1982 - Daniel Biasone
1983 - Robert J. Cousy
1984 - Lawrence F. O'Brien
1985 - Lee Williams
1986 - Grady W. Lewis
1987 - David R. Gavitt
1988 - Haskell Hillyard
1989 - George E. Killian
1990 - Pat Head Summitt
1991 - Morgan B. Wootten
1992 - Will Robinson
1993 - Joe Vancisin
1994 - William Wall
1995 - Pete Carlesimo
1996 - Vic Bubas
1997 - C.M. Newton
1998 - Tex Winter
1999 - Harlem Globetrotters
2000 - Meadowlark Lemon
2001 - Tom Jernstedt
2002 - Harvey Pollack
2003 - Joe O'Brien
2004 - Zelda Spoelstra
2005 - Marty Blake
2006 - Betty Jaynes
2007 - Thomas “Satch” Sanders
2008 - Val Ackerman
2009 - Johnny "Red" Kerr
2010 - Don Meyer
2011 - Brian McIntyre
2012 - Pat Williams
2013 - George Raveling
2014 - Alvin Attles
2015 - Rod Thorn
2016 - Jim Delany
2017 - Michael Goldberg
2017 - Donald “Dee” Rowe
2018 - Harley Redin & Jim Host
2019 - Del Harris & Harry Glickman
2020 - Timothy Nugent
2022 - Reggie Minton
2023 - Tom Konchalski
2024 - JoAn Scott
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophall #GowdyAward.