The Milwaukee Bucks and FOX Sports Wisconsin (FSW) on Tuesday announced the broadcast team and schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 NBA season.
The Bucks broadcast team will once again feature one of best collections of television talent in the NBA as nationally recognized voices Gus Johnson and Marques Johnson return to the team for a second season to join long-time Bucks announcers Jim Paschke and Jon McGlocklin, who are entering their 31st and 41st years, respectively, of calling Bucks action. Joining the team this year is Bucks legend Vin Baker, who will provide analysis on the "Bucks Live" pregame and postgame shows before and after select games throughout season.
Similar to last season, Paschke will handle the play-by-play duties for the majority of Bucks broadcasts, with Gus Johnson filling in for select games throughout the year. Marques Johnson returns to serve as the primary analyst for Bucks broadcasts, with the "Original Buck" Jon McGlocklin continuing in his familiar role at select home games during the season.
Telly Hughes and Sophia Minnaert will once again handle sideline reporting duties on Bucks broadcasts this season, and FOX Sports Wisconsin anchors Jeff Grayson and Craig Coshun return as the hosts of "Bucks Live," which airs before and after every Bucks telecast throughout season. Former Buck and Marquette alum Tony Smith will reprise his role as an analyst on "Bucks Live," with Baker joining the program to provide his unique perspective on the team throughout the season.
"I’m thrilled for this opportunity to come back home to my Bucks family and join the world-class broadcast team that the Bucks and FOX Sports Wisconsin have assembled," Baker said. "I have so many great memories from spending the first years of my career in Milwaukee, and have been honored to be a part of the staff at NBA Summer League these last two years working with our young group. I look forward to joining the great team at FOX to provide thoughtful analysis based on my unique experiences in the NBA for Bucks fans tuning in throughout the season."
The Bucks selected Baker with the eighth overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and he would go on to play the first four of his 13 seasons in the NBA in Milwaukee. A three-time All-Star with the Bucks, Baker averaged 18.3 points per game in his four seasons in Milwaukee, earning All-NBA Third Team honors following the 1996-97 campaign in which he averaged 21.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest.
In addition to his sideline duties, Bucks fans will also be treated to additional reporting and content from Hughes this season as he joins the Bucks front office staff as a full-time contributor to www.bucks.com. In his new role, Hughes will provide in-depth content and analysis on the Bucks team throughout the year in multimedia content available on www.bucks.com and across FOX Sports Wisconsin platforms, while still serving in his familiar role on the sidelines during Bucks broadcasts throughout the season.
The 2016-17 regular season Bucks TV schedule tips off on Wednesday, Oct. 26, when the Bucks host the Charlotte Hornets. The Opening Night broadcast will feature a special one-hour edition of "Bucks Live" beginning at 6 p.m. CT. The only games not being televised by FSW this season are the contests on Dec. 15 vs. Chicago, Jan. 6 vs. New York and March 15 at the L.A. Clippers, all of which will be nationally broadcast and available to Wisconsin viewers on TNT or ESPN.
The 2016-17 telecast schedule also features one preseason broadcast when the Bucks return to the Kohl Center in Madison to host the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
