Perhaps Josh Bett was always going to be involved with the game of basketball one way or another.
He is after all the son of Mick Bett, one of England’s legendary basketball coaches in the British Basketball League.
But this may not be the main motivation for Bett to spend his time and days working in basketball commentary.
At the end of the day, Josh Bett is a basketball fan.
Whether it be following European basketball or appreciating the diehard fans of the Philippines, basketball has been a source of joy and happiness for him.
“To be honest, it’s what keeps me intact. It’s natural for me, it’s a part of my daily life,” he said.
“In my free time, it’s just flip on – see what’s happening in the international world, see what’s happening in the NBA.
“I am passionate about it no doubt but to try not to be over emotional about it, it’s just what makes me happy.”
The way Bett sees it, basketball is something that has always just come naturally to him and his family.
Before he even plied his trade as a FIBA and International basketball commentator, Bett played at the junior national team level for England during his teen years.
And whilst he was, in his words, “never destined to be a professional basketball player,” he did have the opportunity to play Division Three college basketball when he went over to America for college.
“Basketball, it’s always just been something that’s just natural about ourselves,” he said.
“And again I’d never say we are basketball experts, we’re not gurus.
“We come from a country that predominantly isn’t known for basketball but it’s something we’ve always been passionate about.”
As to how he got his start in commentary.
“I will always shoot you a very honest answer. Nepotism,” Bett said rather jokingly, referring to his father.
“That’s the blunt way of putting it.”
His blunt answer doesn’t mention though how his love for the game has been a key underlying factor throughout his commentary career.
“I just love this game so much, loved it from when I was a kid,” he said.
Eventually, Bett’s love for the game guided him down the path of basketball media.
He recalled receiving an email from Paul Stimpson (who was Director of FIBA media), who told him there was an opportunity for him to commentate on a game.
“So I did the game, and I did it probably very terribly,” Bett said.
“I wasn’t great. I wasn’t getting much work, but I wanted to learn because I was so hungry to be successful at this.
“Because when you love something and you’re a part of it at a professional level, there’s no better feeling in the world.”
With his hunger and desire to learn, Bett found himself jumping at the opportunity to commentate on games for the FIBA Liga de Las Americas, which today is known as the Basketball Champions League Americas, despite the difficult and undesirable time arrangements of sometimes finishing at 6am.
“I did that for about a year and a half. I started to get more Basketball Champions League games in Europe, and I wouldn’t say I was getting better. It took a long, long time,” he said.
“But what I was showing was just a hunger. I didn’t look back and say I was getting better, I was getting great.
“It was just listen, I was persistent. This is what I wanted to do.”
With all the games, tournaments and international basketball he has called and covered since those days, Bett still doesn’t lose sight of the fact he is in a very fortunate position to be able to do what he does for a living.
“I’m very privileged of course. I’m not trying to say I’ve earned the right to (be where) I am, I’m just very lucky,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than covering the Basketball Champions League for a whole year, covering the B League (Japanese League) as well as the Turkish League and other leagues and being able to go places in the summer and call these games live.
“It’s a tremendous honour. And for as long as it lasts, so be it basically.”
Bett himself may not know exactly how long his opportunities to commentate basketball will last for, especially considering he has now become a father.
While basketball is a big part of his life, his family will always come first.
At the end of the day, no matter what he finds himself doing in the future, Josh Bett will still be a basketball fan.
“I’d say I’m just a fan of the game,” he said.
“So regardless whether I’m commentating tomorrow or again next year, that will still be what I do in my free time.
“I’ll just be watching hoops.”
This interview was held on January 10, 2025.
