TV Voice of Minnesota Timberwolves Lands National Job

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Eric Strack | Last updated 10/15/24

The Minnesota Timberwolves are preparing for a season with greater expectations than anything Wolves fans have seen since maybe Jimmy Butler’s first year. Possibly 2003-2004, when Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. That year they rolled through to the Western Conference Finals and earned the No. 1 seed.

But it’s possible expectations are higher now than they ever have been. Anthony Edwards is expected to take another step in his development. Overall, ESPN BPI loves their team, especially after trading away Karl-Anthony Towns. Most pundits have the Minnesota Timberwolves as one of a handful of real NBA title contenders for 2024-25.

And for the last two seasons, there has been a different voice narrating the rise of the new era Wolves, under president of basketball operations Tim connelly. Michael Grady was hired as Timberwolves TV play-by-play voice prior to the 2022-23 season, after Dave Benz’ contract was not renewed.

Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play TV voice Michael Grady hired by ESPN

On Sunday, Grady called Minnesota vs New York for ESPN’s preseason broadcast. Monday, news broke that Grady has inked another promotion, this time at ESPN. He will call 18 games at the four-letter network in 2024-25. None of them will clomp on his local duties at (for now) Bally Sports North.

Mike Breen, who has called a record 19 NBA Finals, will continue to lead ESPN’s NBA play-by-play coverage in the season ahead. In addition, Ryan Ruocco, Dave Pasch and Mark Jones return in their play-by-play roles. Michael Grady will join ESPN’s NBA coverage as a play-by-play voice this season.
ESPN announcement

ESPN has officially released its roster for the 2024-2025 NBA season.

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/0ONb7LWF2Q
— NBA World (@NBAW0RLD24) October 14, 2024

Prior to getting the job as Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play voice for Bally Sports North, Michael Grady worked for the YES Network, working Brooklyn Nets games, mostly as a sideline reporter. Now, those days look long gone, as he joins one of the most well-known national broadcasts on the basketball planet.

Grady was a great hire; Dave Benz never should have been let go

I wrote when it happened, and still believe it to this day. Dave Benz did nothing to warrant his firing and it’s a shame he does not have a job in the NBA today. He called an entire decade of brutal Timberwolves basketball. As soon as the future brightened, they booted him out.

That doesn’t mean Michael Grady hasn’t been better than expected. It took him about a half season to get comfortable, but Grady has been one of the better play-by-play guys in the NBA for most of the last year, and he gets better every game.

Now, he’ll get his chance on the big stage.

This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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