NBA

Longtime Blazers broadcaster Brian Wheeler dies at 62

The Trail Blazers said Wheeler, affectionately called Wheels, passed away on Friday following a long illness.

The Portland Trail Blazers face the Memphis Grizzlies on November 5, 2015.
Bruce Ely / Trail Blazers

Former Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster Brian Wheeler, the radio voice of the team from 1998-2019, has died. He was 62.

The Trail Blazers said Wheeler, affectionately called Wheels, passed away on Friday following a long illness.

Wheeler had stints with the Sacramento Kings, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Chicago Bulls before his 21 seasons in Portland.

Known for the exclamation β€œBoom shakalaka!" Wheeler was named Oregon Sportscaster of the Year in 2007.

β€œHis love for the game and passion for the Trail Blazers came through in every radio call, making each play a thrill for every listener tuning in,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.

Copyright The Associated Press
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