NBA announcer loses consciousness on-air, now 'in great spirits'

A veteran play-by-play NBA announcer lost consciousness on-air ahead of the game on Dec. 6.

In a widely shared clip on Twitter, Bob Rathbun was discussing with co-host Dominique Wilkins the matchup between Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder, when he fell back in his chair and began convulsing.

Hawks Announcer Bob Rathbun suffering medical emergency. Pray for him. pic.twitter.com/PXO0ePR9Ny

— Bacon, Grits, Eggs (@reddawg77089) December 6, 2022

Cameras cut away as medical personnel on-site attended to Rathbun, during which he was already alert and responsive, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

Bally Sports Southeast, the 68-year-old's network, in a statement on Dec. 6 said he got dehydrated and received quick treatment.

Bally Sports Southeast's statement on Hawks Play-by-Play Announcer Bob Rathbun. pic.twitter.com/0llNTuyThz

— Bally Sports South (@BallySportsSO) December 6, 2022

"He is stable, responsive, and heading to Emory Midtown for further evaluation," Bally Sports Southeast said.

According to Mayo Clinic, dehydration, or the lack of water and other fluids in the body, can lead to seizures. That's because electrolytes become out of balance, mixing up the normal electrical messages in the body.

Johns Hopkins Medicine said general symptoms of seizures include:

• staring
• jerking movements of the arms and legs
• stiffening of the body
• loss of consciousness
• breathing problems