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.
“I’m excited to join a great organization like the Trail Blazers that’s committed to excellence; is led by a devoted owner in Paul Allen; and is supported by the most passionate fans anywhere in the country,” said Calabro. “With two young stars in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, a great group of teammates and a terrific coach like Terry Stotts, the Trail Blazers have an incredibly bright future. I consider it a privilege to live and work in the Pacific Northwest, and look forward to becoming part of this franchise and the greater Portland community.”
Calabro’s career accolades are many, including being honored with the 2016 Keith Jackson Western Sports Star of the Year award. He has also done acclaimed broadcast work on the national level with TNT, TBS, ESPN Radio, and NBA TV. In years past, Calabro has also lent his voice talent to several Microsoft video games, including NBA Inside Drive, NBA Full Court Press, and NFL Fever, and as the play-by-play voice of Sony PlayStation NBA games.
The broadcasting journey for Calabro in the NBA first began as play-by-play announcer in 1983-84 with the former Kansas City Kings, now the Sacramento Kings. A native of Indiana and graduate of Butler University, he has been honored by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association as “Sportscaster of the Year” for the state of Washington in 1997, 2000-2003 and again in 2006.
Calabro and his wife Sue have four children – Anthony, Nick, Lauren and Joe.