Tom Tolbert
Encyclopedia
Byron Thomas "Tom" Tolbert (born October 16, 1965) is an American
retired professional basketball
player and sports broadcaster. He played a total of seven seasons in the National Basketball Association
. After retiring from basketball, Tolbert became a radio show co-host in San Francisco and NBA commentator for the television networks NBC, ESPN, and ABC.
in 1983. Following high school, he played college basketball
at University of California, Irvine
(1983-1985), Cerritos College
(1985-86), and the University of Arizona
(1986-1988). While at Arizona, Tolbert played under coach Lute Olson
, helping the team to an appearance in the 1988 Final Four
. In 1988, he was a second-round draft pick (9th pick, 34th overall) of the Charlotte Hornets. Tolbert spent seven seasons playing for a number of NBA teams, including Charlotte (1988-89, 94-95), the Golden State Warriors
(1989-92), the Orlando Magic
(1992-93), and the Los Angeles Clippers
(1993-94). He also played briefly for Canarias
in the Spanish league. He retired following the 1994-95 season after his oldest son was born.
, a San Francisco-based local sports radio station, to co-host a radio talk show titled The Razor and Mr. T with a longtime Bay Area
sports radio host Ralph Barbieri
. The show has been the highest rated show in the Bay Area in the 25-54 male demographic since 2000.
for NBA telecasts on NBC before moving on to ESPN
. He was nominated for an Emmy
in 2002
for his work as commentator on NBC
. In 2003
, Tolbert - along with Brad Nessler
and Bill Walton
- called the NBA Finals
for ABC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and sports broadcaster. He played a total of seven seasons in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. After retiring from basketball, Tolbert became a radio show co-host in San Francisco and NBA commentator for the television networks NBC, ESPN, and ABC.
Basketball career
Tolbert graduated from Artesia High School in Lakewood, CaliforniaLakewood, California
Lakewood is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 80,048 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Long Beach on the west and south, Bellflower on the north, Cerritos on the northeast, Cypress on the east, and Hawaiian Gardens on the southeast. Major thoroughfares...
in 1983. Following high school, he played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
(1983-1985), Cerritos College
Cerritos College
Cerritos College is a public comprehensive community college founded in 1955 located in Norwalk, California. It was named after Rancho Los Cerritos, a ranch that served prominently in the region in the 19th century...
(1985-86), and the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
(1986-1988). While at Arizona, Tolbert played under coach Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
, helping the team to an appearance in the 1988 Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. In 1988, he was a second-round draft pick (9th pick, 34th overall) of the Charlotte Hornets. Tolbert spent seven seasons playing for a number of NBA teams, including Charlotte (1988-89, 94-95), the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1989-92), the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
(1992-93), and the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
(1993-94). He also played briefly for Canarias
CB 1939 Canarias
Club Baloncesto 1939 Canarias, also known as Iberostar Canarias by sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Canary Islands and plays in the Pabellón Insular Santiago Martín, in LEB league....
in the Spanish league. He retired following the 1994-95 season after his oldest son was born.
Radio
In 1996, Tolbert was hired by KNBRKNBR
KNBR, The Sports Leader, is the on-air branding used by two AM radio stations in the San Francisco, California, area broadcasting a sports radio format, owned by Cumulus Media....
, a San Francisco-based local sports radio station, to co-host a radio talk show titled The Razor and Mr. T with a longtime Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
sports radio host Ralph Barbieri
Ralph Barbieri
Ralph Barbieri is a sports radio personality in San Francisco, California. Along with Tom Tolbert, Barbieri hosts the afternoon sports radio show The Razor and Mr. T on KNBR...
. The show has been the highest rated show in the Bay Area in the 25-54 male demographic since 2000.
Television
In addition to his radio work in San Francisco, Tolbert was a color commentatorColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for NBA telecasts on NBC before moving on to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He was nominated for an Emmy
Sports Emmy Awards
The Sports Emmy Awards are presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in American sports television programming, including sports-related series, live coverage of sporting events, and best sports announcers...
in 2002
2001-02 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs*Rookie of the Year: Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies*Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons...
for his work as commentator on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. In 2003
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
, Tolbert - along with Brad Nessler
Brad Nessler
Bradley "Brad" Nessler is an American sportscaster, who currently calls college basketball and college football games for ESPN with occasional appearances on ESPN on ABC. He will also call Thursday Night Football on NFL Network beginning in 2011, and appears annually as a commentator in EA Sports'...
and Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
- called the NBA Finals
2003 NBA Finals
The 2003 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2002–03 NBA season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New Jersey Nets of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format. The Spurs...
for ABC.