Photo: Twitter/NBA2KLeague
The NBA 2K League has announced its broadcast team for season two, which begins live on the league’s Twitch channel for the annual Tipoff tournament this Tuesday.
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This team is locked in!🔒 Meet our dynamic and knowledgeable broadcast team for Season 2 🗣 @ScottColeShow @Dirk_JDR @AlexGiaimo @ThePhenomenalEE Watch the #NBA2KLeague all season LIVE on @Twitch 🎮 🏀
The beloved duo of play-by-play man Scott Cole and color commentator Jamie “Dirk” Diaz Ruiz are returning for season two, as is studio host and moderator Phil “The Phenomenal EE” Visu. Larry Ridley, the league’s other host in season one, is not scheduled to host as part of the regular broadcast slate in season two.
A new addition to the broadcast team is sideline reporter Alex Giaimo. Last season, Dirk and Charlotte Bence conducted various sideline interviews with players; Giaimo will provide a more consistent sideline presence and more player interviews to the league broadcasts in year two. Giaimo has also worked for CBS Sports, MLB Network and NBC Sports Boston in her career.
On top of his broadcasting duties, Cole will take on an added role as a content producer, tasked with building week-to-week storylines and developing storylines throughout the season.
“I’m so excited to be back as the voice of the league,” Cole told DIMER. “[NBA 2K League Head of Content and Media] Matt Arden has formed an incredible broadcast team for season 2. Alex is a pro who rocks the mic for all things hoops and adds a journalist sideline report that we didn’t have last year. Phil is the energy, Dirk is the brains and I’m just some old guy who gives obscure 80s references. In other words, we’re the perfect group for season 2.”
Unlike last year, when he began the season as a co-host with Larry Ridley, Dirk will start the year at the commentator’s desk alongside Scott, with whom he developed immediate chemistry after moving to the color commentary role early in the season.
“The broadcast team is phenomenal,” Dirk said. “With Alex joining the team, it makes my life easier, so now I don’t have to run up and down the stage anymore. Phil is Phil, and I get to start the year commentating with Scott, whereas last year I was on the analyst desk for a while. If people were impressed with season 1, be ready for this, because it’s going to blow it away.”