In addition to Chauncey Billups, the LA Clippers’ new play-by-play announcer will be joined by Corey Maggette and Mike Fratello for TV broadcasts this year.
When the LA Clippers begin the 2019-2020 campaign, they’ll be doing so without a former face of the franchise. Ralph Lawler, who called games for the Clippers from 1978 to the end of the 2018-2019 season, officially retired following LA’s postseason meeting with the Golden State Warriors. The franchise has since announced that Brian Sieman, the team’s radio voice since 2007, would be taking Lawler’s old position, with Chauncey Billups joining him as the color analyst.
But according to the LA Times‘ Tom Hoffarth, Billups won’t be the only one calling games with Sieman. Because of his commitment to ESPN, he’ll only be able to work for about two-thirds of the regular season. That means Corey Maggette and Mike Fratello will return to the Clippers’ broadcast booth.
Both Maggette and Fratello joined Lawler in his final season, with Maggette working a bulk of the games. As a former member of the team from 2000-2008, he brought a certain level of familiarity to the booth that allowed him to build a strong connection with Lawler.
Fratello initially called games with Lawler in the early 1990s, when he worked as the team’s color analyst from ’90-’92.
Lawler also worked with Ryan Hollins, Bill Walton, Hubie Brown and Don MacLean during his farewell season, but it doesn’t seem like any of them will be returning for the upcoming campaign. Hoffart noted that MacLean’s Pac-12 schedule doesn’t allow him much time to call games for LA, though he remains the team’s best option.
Regardless, Sieman will have a talented trio of analysts to work with in his debut season as the voice of the LA Clippers, which is something he’s never had before. During his 11 years on radio, Sieman worked alone, meaning he did both play-by-play and analysis. Focusing on play-by-play alone will be an adjustment for him, but with over a month remaining before the regular season begins, he’ll have time to get used to his new role.
Sieman will also have the honor of calling what should be the most exciting season of Clippers basketball to date. With the addition of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, LA is viewed as the title favorite by a majority of fans and media outlets.
With a little over two weeks remaining until preseason basketball begins, it won’t be long before Sieman and co. usher in a new era for the Clippers.