Travis Demers is taking over television play-by-play duties for the Portland Trail Blazers to start the 2026-27 NBA season. The move brings a familiar voice to the broadcast following a dramatic offseason for Blazers Broadcasting. Demers will call games on a game-by-game trial basis alongside analyst Lamar Hurd and reporter Brooke Olzendam. The decision comes as the team prepares for its next preseason fixture, an away game against the Golden State Warriors on October 16.
The Blazers' broadcast booth faced significant upheaval this past summer. The team abruptly fired its newly hired play-by-play voice, Braiden Bell, creating an unexpected vacancy just before the season. This left the organization scrambling to find a steady presence for its television audience. Demers, who has been the team's radio voice for the last seven seasons, stepped in to call the preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 7. Team decision-makers were impressed with his performance in that 123-118 win, leading to this new arrangement.
Demers is no stranger to Trail Blazers fans or the organization. His seven years on radio provide deep knowledge of the roster and the NBA landscape. He has also filled in on television broadcasts before, so the transition is not entirely new. This experience means fans will hear a voice they recognize calling the action. The broadcast team of Demers, Hurd, and Olzendam now offers a blend of continuity and established chemistry. Demers will get a chance to hold the job all season, but the Blazers are keeping their options open. They may bring in a temporary voice for a handful of games to evaluate other candidates and give Demers a brief rest.
While the broadcast booth finds its footing, the team is building momentum in preseason play. After beating the Golden State Warriors, Portland dominated the London Lions 119-66 on October 12. Their most recent outing was a 110-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings on October 13. These preseason wins, while not counting toward the regular season standings, show a team working to build rhythm. The immediate focus is the quick rematch with the Warriors in San Francisco.
The Blazers' next game is a key test, facing the Warriors again on October 16. It will be another early audition for Demers in the television role under more competitive conditions. The organization views this as an evaluation period, assessing the broadcast's quality and fan reception throughout the early season. For the players, continuing their strong preseason form against a Western Conference rival would build confidence. The resolution of the broadcast drama allows everyone to focus back on basketball as the regular season opener approaches.
