Former INBA President Steve Scott scores third pro basketball announcing gig
A year ago, Steve Scott returned to a familiar place, near where he grew up in California.
This fall he also stepped back into a familiar role, as PA announcer for an NBA team: the Golden State Warriors.
“It’s been fun,” Steve said. “I think I may have forgotten how much fun it is.”
Steve started behind the mic for the Chicago Bulls, first as the backup, then full-time from 2002-2006. This was during the time he was News Director and anchor at WLS radio.
It’s also when he was elected 3 times as president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association.
“At that time we were fighting hard to get cameras in the courts. It was a battle and it was eventually won after I left to go to New York. I’m proud to be even a small part of making that happen.”
Steve and his wife Jeanne moved to New York in 2006, when he was hired as an anchor for WCBS radio. He became involved with the New York Press Club, again serving three terms as president. In his “free” time, he handled Public Address for the New York Knicks.
WCBS went off the air in 2024, sending Steve back into the job market. The Scotts made a cross-country move for his new role at KCBS in San Francisco. Steve had grown up in Stockton and had attended San Jose State University. Fun story about that: he didn’t graduate as a younger man, taking a full-time radio job instead, but was able to earn his last credits starting in 2019. His graduation ceremony in 2020 was cancelled by COVID, but he still counts earning his diploma as one of his proudest accomplishments.
A chance meeting at the radio station led to his third NBA gig.
“I was coming out of the kitchen, and the Warriors PR staff just happened to be walking by. I was introduced, and the Senior VP comes over and says you know we’re looking for a PA Announcer.”
Since October, he’s been in what he calls “the best seat in the house” in the Chase Center, where much feels familiar.
“What is kind of weird is the head coach is Steve Kerr, and I announced him when he was with the Bulls, as a player.”
The Warriors’ General Manager is Mike Dunleavy, Jr., whom Scott also announced in his playing days. And a current Warriors player is Gary Payton II, whose dad Gary Payton Sr., was on the court in the earlier years of Scott’s announcing career.
Scott says he wasn’t necessarily looking to do PA again, but with five regular season home games behind him, he’s feeling good. Now he’s checking the schedule to see if he can make a trip back for the INBA’s Spring Awards on April 18.
His memories of INBA are of being around similar people who can understand the ups and downs of the business.
“Whether they work in Chicago or Carbondale, or any town in between, we were all in it together.”