The Fab Five Reunion on Turner

Chris Webber confirmed the kind of reunion that makes basketball fans of a certain age go quiet for a second. The Fab Five, all five, will alt-cast the Michigan-Arizona Final Four game on Turner.

Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson on the call, with Adam Lefkoe hosting. Webber credited Turner for making it happen and said the announcement had come together over time.

When was the last time the five were in the same room publicly. A Michigan football game a couple years back, when Juwan was coaching. That was the last time the outside world had them together in one frame. The inside world is different. There has been a Fab Five text chain going since cell phones existed. Webber said when they get together, everybody reverts to 18.

Webber filled in a detail most fans do not remember. When he left Golden State after his early NBA situation, he was in control of where he went. His choice: the worst team in the league at the time, the Washington Wizards, so he could play with Juwan Howard. Friendship over franchise.

Rich pressed on the chain. Just the five. Webber said yes. He has been friends with Jalen since 12 years old, Juwan since 14. Genuine, not manufactured.

Rich could not help himself on the Pelinka joke. Not on the chain. Webber quipped that Pelinka is too busy stealing Luka from other teams to text.

On the broadcast itself, Webber said the team on the floor is already locked in and the Fab Five presence is not meant to be a distraction. He told the story of Jim Harbaugh bringing him back for a Michigan football game. Webber skipped the team breakfast on purpose. He did not want to be the thing the players noticed. His framing for the broadcast is the same. Honor the team, support the team, stay out of their way, but bring the brotherhood to the audience.

Webber also made sure to name the guys who do not get the Fab Five spotlight: Chip Armer, Sam Mitchell, the rest of the roster. There would be no Fab Five without them. The banners belong to Michigan, not to a brand.

Arizona fans will get their own counter. Richard Jefferson. Mike Bibby. Gilbert Arenas. Miles Simon. Webber's reply: there is only one alt-cast for this game.

He is not wrong.