Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder won’t renew contract of announcer

Published Jun. 15, 2018 5:48 p.m. ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma City Thunder will not renew the contract of the only television play-by-play announcer the team has had since it relocated in 2008.

The team said Friday the contract of Brian Davis, play-by-play announcer since the team relocated from Seattle, will not be renewed for the 2018-19 season.

A team statement does not give a reason for the decision.

Davis was suspended for Game 1 of the Thunder's first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Utah Jazz for a broadcast comment he made during the team's regular-season finale against Memphis. In that game, Davis described Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook as ''out of his cotton-picking mind'' after an assist.

Thunder vice president of broadcasting and communications Dan Mahoney said at the time Davis' phrase was ''highly inappropriate and offensive.''