In the latest episode of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with British basketball commentator Dan Routledge, one of the foremost experts on the domestic game.
Routledge has been a commentator for over two decades, covering the BBL, GB and other international basketball for Sky Sports, Eurosport, ITV, Channel 4, ESPN, NBA TV, and many more.
He has closely covered the entire evolution of the British Basketball League, and is arguably the most knowledgable person around the domestic pro league.
A stats man, he has a spreadsheet tracking system which gives him unique insight into player and team milestones and statistical nuggets that he regularly shares on his Twitter, @dan_routledge.
In this 1 hour and 40 minute episode, hear from Dan on:
How he first ended up as a PA announcer as a teenager
His first broadcast gig on radio
Making the transition into TV
The prep that goes into commentating a game
The worst game he’s ever had to cover
Doing the play by play versus doing the color
The keys to being good at play-by-play
Whether or not BBL franchises have taken seriously enough the hiring of their commentators
The importance of reviewing his performances
His favourite call of his career
The funding debate and how basketball/sport is funded in the UK
the drop out rate of players when they finish school at 18
The importance of facilities to help basketball grow
How difficult it is to sell game tickets in the British basketball market
Whether he thinks domestic league success is more important than National Team success for the growth of basketball
The challenge non-traditional british sports have in cutting through the media
The missed opportunity of the London 2012 Olympics
Why he thinks it’s good for British basketball that a lot of our top talent plays abroad
The impact having British stars in the league this season has had
What BBL teams need to do to become more commercially viable
How he covers the BBL so closely
Whether he thinks basketball in the UK can ever reach its mystical potential
The political in-fighting of the sport
His spreadsheets and stat-tracking, and how the backend works
His favourite ever BBL player
The best player to ever play in the BBL
The one game he would show to a potential fan to sell them on the BBL
And much more!
As always, I’d love to get your feedback, come back after you’ve listened and lets get some discussion going in the comments.
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