Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Phil played college basketball at the University of California in Berkeley and was selected fourth in the 1971 NBA Hardship Draft by the Baltimore Bullets. He was an NBA All-Rookie, 3 time All-Star and 1978 NBA Champion with the Washington Bullets. He averaged 17. 2 points per game in 11 years in the NBA, nine with the Bullets.
Phil started his sports broadcasting with Home Team Sports in 1985, broadcasted on Black Entertainment Television, and since 1987 broadcasted Washington Bullets and Washington Wizards games on CSN Washington alongside play-by-play commentator, Steve Buckhantz.