Portland Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon’s latest round of cost-cutting measures has completely reshaped their broadcast department, letting go of several key figures and prompting the departure of a voice very familiar to the Emerald City. Dundon, who officially became the Blazers owner in March after buying the team last year, has been under fire since day one for his penchant for slashing costs, and now it looks like the Blazers are paying the price.
Blazers Broadcast Team Gutted by Dundon’s Axe
This week saw a major shake-up, with the Blazers making sweeping cuts to their broadcast crew. Maury Brown of Forbes reported that the team let go of TV Analyst Michael Holton, Statistician Tom Haberstroh, and TV Hosts Neil Everett and Jamie Hudson. Everett is the biggest name on that list, a longtime SportsCenter anchor who had been working for his hometown team since 2021. Haberstroh is also a notable national basketball writer, so these aren’t small names getting shown the door. The status of radio play-by-play announcer Travis Demers is still up in the air too, leaving fans wondering who will even be left to call games next season. The Blazers’ official statement offered little comfort, talking about “evolving with changes in the broadcast industry” and becoming “more efficient,” which sounds like corporate speak for “we’re doing this on the cheap.”
Kevin Calabro’s Seattle Ties Run Deep
But the real gut punch for anyone who remembers the glory days of basketball in our region is the departure of TV play-by-play announcer Kevin Calabro. On Wednesday, Calabro told Joe Freeman that he is stepping away from his position because he “didn’t see eye-to-eye” with the team’s offers on a new deal. This dude, who called games for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1987 until the team moved in 2008, joined the Blazers in 2016 and has been their lead announcer ever since. Calabro’s words on leaving hit different for us in Seattle: “I was grateful to have one of 30 jobs in the league and work so close to my home in Seattle.” That’s real, man. His connection to our city, even while calling games for our neighbors to the south, has always been there. This isn’t Dundon’s first rodeo with this kind of move either. He’s known for cost-cutting with the Carolina Hurricanes, even letting go of longtime announcers John Forslund and Chuck Kaiton early in his tenure there.
So, what’s next for Calabro? He’s not retiring, not by a long shot. He’s already in discussions with other teams about a possible landing spot, which is huge news. The Blazers are moving forward with a much different set of faces and confirmed that radio broadcasts will continue in 2026-27 but will not be television simulcasts. It’s a sad day for Blazers fans losing so many familiar voices, but for us in Seattle, it makes you wonder where a voice like Calabro’s might land next. Keep an eye out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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