A rising play-by-play broadcaster is poised for a big new opportunity.
Michael Grady is expected to become Amazon’s top WNBA announcer in addition to calling NBA games for the tech giant’s Prime Video streaming service, sources tell Front Office Sports. The deal has not been finalized.
Grady currently calls Timberwolves games in Minnesota and also has national ESPN NBA broadcasts. The Athletic previously reported he has talked with Amazon about calling NBA games.
As part of the new NBA pact, which starts this fall, Prime Video and NBC will be in the rotation with Disney’s ESPN/ABC for the WNBA Finals. Prime Video will have the Finals in 2028, 2032, and 2036.
In an interesting wrinkle, Grady has also had talks to call NBA and WNBA games for NBC, FOS has learned. In this potential arrangement, it’s possible Grady would work for both Amazon and NBC.
Spokespeople for Amazon and NBC declined to comment.
Amazon and NBC have been beefing up their talent rosters in advance of the upcoming NBA deal. NBC has announced that Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Reggie Miller, and Jamal Crawford will announce their games and that Carmelo Anthony will be a studio analyst.
Amazon has announced Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker, Steve Nash, and Udonis Haslem as part of its talent lineup. Ian Eagle and Kevin Harlan are also expected to be play-by-play announcers.
