Kevin Calabro named as the new television play-by-play announcer

According to a press release from the team, “The Portland Trail Blazers have hired award-winning broadcast veteran Kevin Calabro as its new television play-by-play voice starting with the 2016-17 season, it was announced today by Trail Blazers President & CEO Chris McGowan.  Calabro takes over for play-by-play host Mike Barrett, who departed the Trail Blazers along with color analyst Mike Rice earlier this week after 13 years calling Portland’s games.  McGowan said a national search continues for a color analyst to pair with Calabro, recognized as one of the top play-by-play broadcasters in the country.

“It’s not often you get the chance to add someone of Kevin’s talent level to an organization, and we’re thrilled that he will lead our broadcast team as the new play-by-play announcer,” said McGowan.  “Kevin won’t be a stranger to Trail Blazers fans thanks to his deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, and his impressive career as a national broadcast voice for NBA and NCAA basketball.”

Calabro spent 21 years as a television and radio announcer for the former Seattle SuperSonics until that franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.  Instead of relocating with the team, he chose his love for the Pacific Northwest and remained in the Seattle area, currently a regular post season national play-by-play announcer for ESPN Radio, Turner Broadcasting and NBA TV, as well as a member of the Westwood One Radio announcer team for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.”

The team has yet to announce who will replace Mike Rice as the television color commentator, though there has been much speculation about former Blazer players and other higher profile names such as Brent Barry, Steve Smith, and Mychal Thompson.