Blazers: Lamar Hurd Reportedly to be Hired as TV Analyst
Blazers TV Analyst: Former Oregon State Point Guard to partner with Kevin Calabro
The Portland Trail Blazers broadcasting team is taking shape. According to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune, Lamar Hurd will be announced soon as the TV color analyst alongside Kevin Calabro.
Casey Holdahl hinted a couple weeks ago about the potential candidate being local. The Trail Blazers did not disappoint on that aspect: Lamar Hurd is a former Oregon State Beavers point guard who lives in Portland. He routinely calls games on the Pac-12 Network – sometimes paired with Calabro.
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Portland was not done shuffling the broadcasting crew after deciding on Hurd: Eggers notes that Jordan Kent and Brooke Olzendam are going to be hired by the team. Adam Bjarnson will not be the pre-game host, but also will not be fired. Finally, Brian Wheeler will likely work alone on the radio play-by-play. However, former Trail Blazers Brian Grant might join Wheeler at times this season.
Once the hint about a local commentator dropped, RCP speculated on who might be a candidate. Eggers did confirm that P.J. Carlesimo, Steve Smith and Will Perdue were also interviewed for the position. In the end, Lamar Hurd seems like a solid choice who already has chemistry with Calabro.
What do you think of the hiring Rip City? Would you have rather heard P.J. Carlesimo’s raspy voice alongside Calabro?