Gus Johnson, Marques Johnson join FOX Sports Wisconsin's Bucks broadcasts

By foxsports
Published

Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson will join FOX Sports Wisconsin's Bucks broadcast team this season, bringing a pair of nationally-recognized voices to the broadcast booth to join long-time commentators Jim Paschke and Jon McGlocklin, who return for their 30th season of calling Bucks action together.

The additions of Johnson and Johnson mark a pair of homecomings, with Gus returning to the NBA for the first time since 2010 and Marques returning to the Bucks franchise where he enjoyed a storied career during the late '70s and early '80s. Gus will handle play-by-play duties for 20 games this season, while Marques will serve as the color analyst on 55 local telecasts. Paschke and McGlocklin, who have been fixtures on Bucks broadcasts for 30 years, will continue to handle play-by-play and analyst duties, respectively, for the remaining FOX Sports Wisconsin telecasts.

Already a prominent member of the FOX Sports family as lead play-by-play announcer for college football and college basketball, Gus Johnson returns to his NBA roots with his new Bucks play-by-play duties. From 1994-2010, Johnson served as the primary radio voice of the New York Knicks for Madison Square Garden Network (MSG), while also filling in on TV roles for both the Knicks and WNBA's New York Liberty. Prior to joining FOX Sports, Johnson was one of CBS's top play-by-play voices for the network's college basketball coverage from 1996 to 2011. Clips of his dramatic, enthusiastic calls in the deciding moments of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament games became part of the fabric of the event and were the foundation of Johnson's rise as a YouTube sensation.

"I am overjoyed and so looking forward to calling the games of a great young team with an exciting young coach in one of my favorite cities. It's an honor to get back into the NBA with a franchise truly on the rise," Johnson said. "I also look forward to working with Jim Paschke, someone I have known and admired for many years as one of the best in the business, and Marques Johnson, one of the all-time great Milwaukee Bucks. This is a unique opportunity to be a part of one of the best broadcast teams in the NBA."

Marques Johnson's NBA career began in Milwaukee when the Bucks selected the 6-7 forward with the third overall pick in the 1977 NBA Draft. Johnson would go on to play seven seasons in Milwaukee, leading the Bucks to the playoffs in six of them while earning four All-Star and three All-NBA Team selections. Johnson averaged 21.0 points per game during his time with the Bucks, the fourth-best mark in franchise history, and also ranks among the franchise's all-time leaders nearly every statistical category. Following his playing career, Johnson served as an analyst on Seattle SuperSonics broadcasts in the late '90s, and most recently hosted a morning sports show on the Clippers' flagship radio station in Los Angeles.

"I loved my time in Milwaukee and was part of some truly memorable teams, so it's an honor to be coming back home to this fantastic franchise," Johnson said. "This young and talented team has a very bright future, and I'm thrilled to have a front row seat alongside two of the best announcers in the business in Gus and Jim for what promises to be an exciting season."

"I have a lot of admiration and respect for Gus and Marques -- two of the all-time greats in their respective fields -- and look forward to the energy and expertise they'll bring to Bucks broadcasts this season," Paschke said. "In my 30 years of calling Bucks action I've been a part of many incredible broadcasts, but I honestly believe the best is still to come. Bucks fans will have plenty to look forward to this season, both on the court and on TV."

"I am honored to continue to be a part of the Bucks broadcast team as I start my 40th season behind the mic," added McGlocklin. "It has been a blessing and a privilege for me and my family to have been a part of the Bucks organization since its inception in 1968. Gus and Marques are both outstanding talents with extensive basketball experience who bring unique and special skills to our broadcast."

"This is another step forward in raising the profile of the Milwaukee Bucks, both on and off the court," said Mike Dimond, Senior Vice President and General Manager for FOX Sports Wisconsin. "It's an honor to have Jim and Jon return for their 30th season of calling Bucks basketball. The addition of Gus and Marques will bring a wealth of talent and experience to our broadcasts."

FOX Sports Wisconsin will air 78 Bucks games for the 2015-16 season. The schedule begins Wednesday, Oct. 28 with the Bucks season opener vs. the New York Knicks in front of a home crowd at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Extended coverage of the opener begins at 6:00 p.m. with a special one-hour edition of Bucks Live.

Coming off one of the highest-rated seasons ever for Bucks, FOX Sports Wisconsin will televise two preseason games as well as 40 telecasts from the BMO Harris Bradley Center and 38 road contests.

Bucks Live on FOX Sports Wisconsin will air before and after every telecast with Jeff Grayson and Craig Coshun hosting, and former Marquette University standout and NBA player Tony Smith serving as analyst. Telly Hughes and Sophia Minnaert will handle sideline reporting duties.

FOX Sports Wisconsin reaches more than 1.7 million homes and telecasts nearly 2,600 hours of locally produced programming per year.