Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Recruiting

Portland Trail Blazers seek new TV announcer before season starts

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 5, 2026, 11:20 PM

Last updated Oct 5, 2026

Portland Trail Blazers seek new TV announcer before season starts

Summary

The Portland Trail Blazers are without a TV play-by-play announcer as the 2026-2027 NBA season approaches in two weeks. Kevin Calabro, the team's longtime voice, left after a budget-related contract dispute. Braiden Bell was initially chosen for the role but was swiftly removed following the discovery of controversial past social media posts. The Blazers have several options, including hiring Kyle Draper or transitioning radio voice Travis Demers to television. Time is critical as the team scrambles to secure a replacement.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Calabro left due to a budget cut and inadequate contract offer.
•Braiden Bell was selected but faced backlash over offensive social media posts.
•Options include hiring Kyle Draper or moving Travis Demers to TV.
•The Blazers need to finalize a new announcer soon to avoid disruption.

Latest Updates

11:20 PMYahoo Sports — So who’s going to call Portland Trail Blazers games on TV this season?

What they're saying

"
The 2026-2027 NBA season begins in about two weeks, and the Portland Trail Blazers have a bit of an issue: They don’t have a TV play-by-play announcer. The Blazers let longtime TV voice Kevin Calabro walk this offseason amid budget cuts (making him a “subprime” offer he refused before taking his talents to Minnesota). The…
— Yahoo Sports

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