Bob Rathbun

Bob Rathbun, a sportscaster, motivational speaker, and author, has enjoyed a long and varied career in sports broadcasting since his graduation from Catawba College in 1976. He has been the television play-by-play announcer for Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Dream basketball games on Bally Sports South since 1996, and he served as the lead broadcaster for ESPN covering ArenaBowl '87, the inaugural championship game of the Arena Football League, in 1987. Rathbun's experience extends beyond basketball, as he has also done broadcast work for both the Washington Bullets and Baltimore Orioles.

His expertise in sports commentary is further demonstrated by his tenure as the play-by-play announcer on Atlanta Braves baseball games on Fox Sports Net from 1997 to 2006. Currently, Rathbun is the play-by-play announcer for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks and the WNBA's Atlanta Dream, sharing the microphone with Dominique Wilkins, a nine-time NBA All-Star and former player for the Hawks. His aptitude for sports broadcasting is not limited to professional leagues; Rathbun also serves as the play-by-play announcer for Southeastern Conference football games on FSN South and Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball and football games for Raycom Sports.

Rathbun's contributions to sports broadcasting have been recognized with numerous accolades, including his induction into the Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1988. Despite experiencing a medical emergency during a live broadcast on December 5, 2022, Rathbun made a speedy recovery and returned to his role as the play-by-play announcer for the Hawks on December 19, 2022.