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Fast Talkers | Preoccupations | Nice Work (If You Can Get It)


Fast Talkers

We asked some NBA insiders to name the league's fastest-talking team announcers, the ones capable of calling a game in a way thatsoundslikethis.

KEVIN CALABRO, Sonics. If The Flight of the Bumblebee had lyrics, Calabro would be able to sing along. Loyal listeners swear that Calabro—generally considered the best radio play-by-play man in the league—usually takes his first breath of the night midway through the second quarter.

CHICK HEARN, Lakers. Says former Lakers coach and current Heat general manager Randy Pfund of the dean of NBA broadcasters. "He can fit a whole dictionary into a two-minute timeout."

HOT ROD HUNDLEY, Jazz. As his name implies, Hundley often speaks as though his jowls were being operated by Chuck Yeager.

JOSÉ PAÑEDA, Heat. Positively rapidísimo, even when one considers he broadcasts en español.

GREG PAPA, Spurs. Honed his 78-rpm style in his previous play-by-play post with the run-and-gun, defense-challenged Warriors.

—L. Jon Wertheim