After the Los Angeles Clippers new television and radio announcers were reported nearly two months ago, the organization made the hires official on Monday.
With longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler retiring, the Clippers moved Brian Sieman from the radio booth to television. Taking over the void left by Sieman, will be 22-year old recent Syracuse graduate, Noah Eagle as the Clippers new radio voice.
During the summer, while the Clippers and Brooklyn Nets competed to attract NBA superstars in free agency, the two organizations also competed for broadcasters. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Clippers originally reached out to Noah’s father and Nets play-by-play announcer, Ian Eagle to gauge his interest in flying west to replace Lawler. The 25-year voice of the Nets turned down the gig, but recommended his son Noah, who called games for NBA TV’s Summer League.
Noah ended up landing the radio opening, but in addition to trying to lure the Nets play-by-play voice across the country, the Clippers also checked in about some of their analysts. Earlier in the summer, the New York Post’s Andrew Marchand reported the Clippers reached out to Nets YES Network analysts, Sarah Kustok and Richard Jefferson. Both sportscasters, like Ian, turned down the opportunity.
If a franchise or network is attempting to bolster their broadcast team, looking to the YES Network isn’t a bad place to start. In addition to Eagle, Kustok and Jefferson, the Nets have helped develop Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jackson and Greg Anthony, among others.
In naming Sieman and Noah as their play-by-play voices, the Clippers also announced their television analysts for the upcoming season. Joining Sieman on the broadcast will be a rotation featuring Chauncey Billups, Mike Fratello and Corey Maggette.
Billups, who had a short stay with the Clippers during his 17-year NBA career, will continue to contribute as an ESPN analyst in addition to his new role partnered with Sieman. Fratello, a former NBA head coach, who has worked as an analyst for NBA TV, TNT and the YES Network, will rotate into the Clippers broadcast. Lastly, this season will see Corey Maggette return to the Clippers broadcast after departing in February because of personal legal matters.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
