Pinto returns to broadcasts as Thunder renews radio deal
The Thunder will open its second decade in Oklahoma City with the same radio home — and the same play by play voice — it had in its first 10 seasons.
Matt Pinto will return for his 11th season of radio play by play duties thanks to a renewed broadcast partnership between the Thunder and Cumulus Radio that will keep games on 98.1 FM The Sports Animal.
Pinto will continue to host the weekly Thunder Full Court Press on The Sports Animal, the flagship station in the Thunder Radio Network, a collection of radio stations statewide carrying Thunder games.
A number of stations in the network — including The Sports Animal Tulsa — are Sports Animal affiliates.
The agreement, announced Monday, also keeps Thunder Spanish broadcasts on Cumulus station WKY 930-AM (ESPN Deportes) with announcer
Eleno Ornelas.
“The Sports Animal has been a tremendous and loyal partner since our inception in Oklahoma City in 2008,” Thunder vice president of broadcasting Dan Mahoney said in a release. “The station’s strong listener base and powerful reach have made it the ideal radio partner. We are excited to continue this successful relationship.”
With the radio partnership settled, the Thunder’s next broadcast decision will come on the television side.
The team has not announced a replacement for Brian Davis, its former TV play by play announcer. The franchise announced on June 15 that Davis’ contract would not be renewed and that it would begin a search for a new play by play announcer in conjunction with TV partner Fox Sports Oklahoma. The search is ongoing.
Micheal Cage will return as analyst on Thunder TV broadcasts.
Westbrook, Harden reunite in charity game
Former Thunder teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden were on the court together again on Sunday, this time to benefit Harden’s 3 The Harden Way foundation.
The NBA’s two most recent MVPs teamed up at Texas Southern on Sunday for a charity game that capped Harden’s JH-Town Weekend. The event featured a Friday comedy show and Saturday celebrity softball game in addition to Sunday’s basketball game.
Harden, a star with the Houston Rockets, and Westbrook were on the winning team in a game that also featured NBA players DeMar DeRozan, Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris and P.J. Tucker,
among others, and celebrities including rappers Travis Scott and Meek Mill.
The event benefits Harden’s foundation, which provides academic financial support to “high-achieving students who demonstrate leadership within communities facing economic hardship.”
“I think everybody around the city has a buzz and a smile,” Harden told reporters at the game. “It’s a good feeling. I’m happy. This is my second year doing it. It gets better every single year — not only just the excitement, but the more people in Houston are positively affected by it.”
Beyer added to coaching staff
The Thunder officially announced the hire of former Detroit assistant Bob Beyer as an assistant coach on Monday.
Beyer spent the last four seasons in Detroit, most recently serving as an assistant head coach the last two seasons under Stan Van Gundy. It was with Van Gundy in Orlando where Beyer coached from 200712, helping the Magic to five consecutive postseason appearances, including the 2009 NBA Finals.
Beyer comes to Oklahoma with experience in Big 12 country, as he served under Bob Knight at Texas Tech from 2001-03. He was first an NBA assistant in 2003 with Toronto.
Beyer joins the Thunder staff after assistants Royal Ivey and Adrian Griffin left this offseason for assistant coaching positions with the Knicks and Raptors, respectively.
Beyer’s hire was first reported by ESPN in early August.