Jon Barry Named NBA on ESPN Radio Lead Analyst; PJ Carlesimo and Stan Van Gundy to Call Select Games; Kevin Calabro and Marc Kestcher Provide Play-by-Play
Jon Barry, a 14-year NBA veteran, has reached a multi-year agreement to serve as the lead analyst for NBA on ESPN Radio. He will work more than 40 regular-season and playoff broadcasts. Kevin Calabro, who has called NBA games on ESPN Radio since 2008, returns as the play-by-play voice and will partner with Barry throughout the season. Barry, who joined ESPN prior to the 2006-07 season, will continue to provide analysis during ESPN game telecasts and for a variety of ESPN news and information studio shows.
Barry and Calabro will make their NBA on ESPN Radio debut on Opening Night, Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. ET with an Eastern Conference Semifinal rematch between the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat – led by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade – hosting the Chicago Bulls – with the returning Derrick Rose.
Barry said, “I am excited to expand my role with ESPN to include games on ESPN Radio. I know I can’t fill the shoes of Dr. Jack Ramsay, but I will do my best to inform and entertain our listeners.”
Dr. Jack Ramsay added, “For the past 18 seasons, it was my pleasure to call NBA games on ESPN Radio alongside the late, incomparable Hall of Fame broadcaster, dear friend Jim Durham. I’ll always treasure our time together and the great games we were privileged to call. Now I look forward to listening to Kevin Calabro and Jon Barry – both outstanding broadcasters who know the game.”
Tim McCarthy, senior vice president, ESPN Audio play-by-play and talent planning, said, “As we enter ESPN Radio’s 19th season as the exclusive national broadcaster of the NBA, adding Jon Barry, with his NBA knowledge and pedigree, only solidifies our commitment to producing the best play- by play-content. The team of Kevin Calabro and Jon Barry will be very compelling.”
Barry, known for his defense and ability to make clutch shots, played for several teams throughout his career including the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets and most recently with the Houston Rockets. He was a first-round pick by Milwaukee in 1992 out of Georgia Tech.
Jon is the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry and brother of former NBA player Brent Barry.
PJ Carlesimo, who joined ESPN during the 2013 playoffs, will work select games throughout the regular- and post-season, partnering with Marc Kestecher, who joined ESPN Radio in 1999 and has been part of Radio’s Super Bowl, NFL, NBA, MLB, BCS, college football and college basketball coverage.
ESPN has also reached an agreement with veteran NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy to join ESPN Radio’s NBA coverage team. Van Gundy will serve as a game analyst for 10 broadcasts during the 2013-14 NBA regular season. In addition, Van Gundy will continue to serve as one of the rotating guest hosts on the Miami-based The Dan Le Batard Show – ESPN Radio’s new, national program – which he did when the show was a local show.
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