PORTLAND — It’s not often the Portland Trail Blazers announce a new radio play-by-play broadcaster.
Monday was just the third time in 50 years.
The Blazers announced the hiring of Travis Demers to be the radio voice of the team.
Demers, filling in for Brian Wheeler, called 57 Trail Blazers games during the 2018-19 season including 11 NBA playoff games as Portland advanced to the Western Conference Finals.
Demers, who grew up in Westchester County, N.Y., becomes only the third radio play-by-play broadcaster in team history joining the likes of Bill Schonely, who served from 1970-1998, and Wheeler from 1998-2019.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to call games for a franchise that I love, to work with incredible people, and share that with the best fans in the NBA,” Demers said in a statement. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, it’s an absolute dream job. I’m thrilled to be able to live out that dream in Rip City.”
Demers is also the host of “The Rip City Drive,” which airs on Rip City Radio 620 AM in Portland and NBC Sports Northwest.
Demers also hosts “Talkin Beavers” on NBC Sports Northwest.
Prior to joining Rip City Radio in 2015, Demers was a host, update anchor and play-by-play announcer at KFXX-AM in Portland from 2003-2014. He has also called TV play-by-play for the University of Portland, as well as radio play-by-play for the Hillsboro Hops, and the OSAA Radio Network.
