The 6-7 Bilas was a top 50 national prep recruit out of Rollings Hills High School where he averaged 24 points and14 rebounds a game. He was selected All-CIF, League MVP, and ‘Best in the West’ as a senior. He went to Duke where he was a four-year starter, and played in the 1986 NCAA Title game. He scored over 1,000 points, grabbed almost 700 rebounds and shot 55% in a strong college career that included two trips to the Final Four. He played for the USA Select Team in the Jones Cup in Taiwan in 1985 that won the silver medal.

He was a fifth round NBA draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks, and played overseas for three seasons. He retired to become the Duke Assistant Coach from 1989-1992. During his three seasons, Duke won two NCAA titles and advanced to three straight Final Fours, while he was completing his law school degree. Best known for his work at ESPN, starting in 1995, Bilas has been broadcasting for almost 30 years, while doing special network projects. He also worked on the NCAA Tournament for CBS Sports from 2003-2010, including partnering with Dick Enberg from 2005 on. He has been nominated for multiple Emmys.