Iconic voice of the Los Angeles Clippers on television and radio, Ralph Lawler will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a recipient of The Curt Gowdy Media Award.
Named after a former sportscaster and president of the basketball Hall of Fame, The Curt Gowdy Media Award is presented annually to outstanding writers and broadcasters.
“I can hardly believe this is happening,” Lawler said in a press release. “Never in my wildest dreams did I dare to imagine that my career would culminate with this ultimate honor. My wife and I are thrilled and humbled to be joining the elite group that preceded me with the Curt Gowdy Award. Thanks to everyone who helped make this a reality.”
Missing just three broadcasts during his entire 40-year career, Lawler has called nearly every Clippers game since the franchise moved to the west coast from Buffalo, NY including a six-years stint in San Diego from 1978-85. Lawler has served as both the television and radio voice for the Clippers, most recently working primarily on the TV side with Fox Sports Prime Ticket and switching to iHeart’s AM 570 LA Sports when the Clippers are off local TV.
“As we celebrate Ralph’s final season calling Clippers games, it is only fitting that we also get to celebrate him as a recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award,” said Clippers chairman Steve Ballmer. “He has always been a Hall of Famer in my book, and this honor is beyond well-deserved. Clipper Nation calls him the ‘Voice of the Clippers,’ but Ralph is so much more than that; he is our heart and soul.”
In September, Lawler announced his hall-of-fame career would come to a close, making the decision to retire at the end of the 2018-19 season.
The 2019 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, September 6th in Springfield, MA. Former ESPN contributor and current sports reporter for the NY Times, Marc Stein will join Lawler as a recipient of The Curt Gowdy Media Award.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.