Longtime Trail Blazers broadcaster Kevin Calabro parts ways with team due to ‘subprime’ offer

The Portland Trail Blazers are still trying to find their footing under new team owner Tom Dundon.

Portland made headlines in May after the organization laid off about 70 people as part of a restructuring. The negative press kept coming on Wednesday, when The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman reported that longtime broadcaster Kevin Calabro was parting ways with the organization.

Calabro wasn’t the only one. He left under his own terms, but Forbes’ Maury Brown also reported that “TV analyst Michael Holton and statistician Tom Haberstroh, as well as TV hosts Neil Everett and Jamie Hudson have all been let go.”

Portland released a statement about the cuts to its broadcast teams.

“We are deeply grateful to all the hard-working individuals who have contributed to our award-winning broadcasts over the years. I can’t comment on individual personnel decisions, but I can confirm that we are making changes for the upcoming season as we continue to evolve with the changes in the broadcast industry and look to become more efficient in our business operations.
While plans are still being finalized, play-by-play radio broadcasts will continue in the 2026-27 season, and will not be television simulcasts.”

Calabro made sure to specify to Freeman that he was not retiring but was leaving due to a poor offer from Portland to stay. The broadcaster needed a new contract but called the offer “subprime,” a pointed shot at Dundon.

The franchise owner controversially built his wealth largely through subprime loans in the auto lending industry. Subprime loans are a type of credit that is specifically offered to borrowers who have lower credit scores, do not qualify for typical loans and are at a statistically higher risk of defaulting on their loans.

Freeman reported that Calabro has conversations scheduled with other NBA teams about opportunities. Calabro appreciated his time in Portland, but is looking toward the future.

“I feel great about it [leaving Portland].
I was grateful to have one of 30 jobs in the league and work so close to my home in Seattle. I’ll always be a part of Blazers history. I made some great memories and some great friends.”

Calabro had been with the Trail Blazers since 2016, other than taking off the 2020-2021 season to spend time with family.

Source link