Bob Costas Accidentally Uses NSFW Phrase During NBA Broadcast

Veteran broadcaster quickly catches himself and apologizes after slip-up.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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During NBC's throwback NBA broadcast featuring the San Antonio Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, veteran broadcaster Bob Costas inadvertently used an NSFW phrase while praising former NBC colleagues Dick Enberg and Dick Ebersol. Costas immediately recognized his mistake and apologized, acknowledging that the clip would likely spread on social media.

Why it matters

Costas is known for his professionalism and eloquence on-air, so this uncharacteristic slip-up caught many viewers by surprise. The incident highlights the pressure and scrutiny that high-profile sports broadcasters face, where a single misspoken word can quickly go viral.

The details

While discussing the network's past NBA coverage, Costas referred to Enberg and Ebersol as "two great Dicks." He immediately caught himself, saying "Someone's going to cut that off and it's not going to sound right. It's not going to sound right. Two great 'Richards,' known as 'Dick,' with the last name beginning with an E. Two D.E.'s. ... Thank you whoever edits that out."

  • The incident occurred during NBC's throwback NBA broadcast on March 4, 2026.

The players

Bob Costas

A veteran broadcaster who has covered the NBA for NBC since the 1990s.

Dick Enberg

A legendary sportscaster who worked for NBC for many years.

Dick Ebersol

The former chairman of NBC Sports who helped oversee the network's NBA coverage.

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What they’re saying

“Two great Dicks. ... Someone's going to cut that off and it's not going to sound right. It's not going to sound right. Two great 'Richards,' known as 'Dick,' with the last name beginning with an E. Two D.E.'s. ... Thank you whoever edits that out.”

— Bob Costas, Broadcaster

What’s next

NBC has indicated that this throwback broadcast is the first of many planned for the future, giving Costas and other veteran analysts more opportunities to revisit the network's rich NBA history.

The takeaway

Despite his decades of experience, even the most seasoned broadcasters can occasionally stumble over their words on live television. Costas' quick recovery and self-awareness showed his professionalism, but the incident serves as a reminder of the heightened scrutiny that high-profile sports personalities face in the modern media landscape.