Timberwolves, Bally Sports North hire Michael Grady as new play-by-play voice

The Timberwolves have their new television play-by-play voice, as Michael Grady was announced as the choice for the job Thursday by the Wolves and Bally Sports North.

Grady replaces longtime voice Dave Benz, whose contract was controversially not renewed this offseason.

Grady comes to Minnesota by way, primarily, of Indiana and Brooklyn. And he has a robust history in the NBA.

He spent the past five seasons with the YES Network, working as the sideline reporter for Brooklyn Nets games while also handling play-by-play duties for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.

Prior to his work in Brooklyn, the Indiana native worked in his home state, where he earned 2016 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year honors as a sports anchor at WRTV-TV, while also hosting a local ESPN radio show and serving as the Pacers’ public-address announcer from 2010-17.

Grady will work alongside beloved Timberwolves color analyst Jim Petersen.

“Today is a thrilling day for myself and my family, this has been a lifelong dream to be an NBA play-by-play announcer,” Grady said in a statement. “I can’t wait to join Jim and the rest of the Bally Sports North crew calling games for this exciting franchise.”

The hiring was announced just one day after Bally Sports announced its Bally Sports+ streaming option, a pay-for-product set to launch in late September that will allow fans without cable to stream Timberwolves and Wild games for $20 per month. Grady’s first on-air appearance will come during Timberwolves preseason games in early October.

“Michael’s unique background and basketball acumen will serve him well in his new role. Fans will enjoy his smooth delivery for this exciting new era of Timberwolves basketball and he will be a great complement to longtime Timberwolves analyst Jim Petersen,” Bally Sports North executive producer Tony Tortorici said in a statement.

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