While multi-Emmy Award-winning Ian Eagle will continue to split play-by-play duties with Ryan Ruocco, Sarah Kustok, who has been YES' Nets courtside reporter the past five seasons, will now become YES' primary game analyst. Kustok will become the only woman to work as the primary solo NBA game analyst at a regional sports network.
She periodically worked as a Nets game analyst for YES the past three seasons. YES veteran and fellow Emmy Award-winner Jim Spanarkel will split game analyst duties with Kustok.
Mike Fratello, yet another YES Emmy Award-winner, and a game analyst for YES since his arrival at the network in 2008, will move into a studio analyst role this season, working alongside Chris Shearn, Nancy Newman and multiple Emmy winner Bob Lorenz, who will continue rotating as studio hosts.
Michael Grady will make his debut this season as YES' Nets courtside reporter. Grady is the 2016 Indiana Sportscaster of the Year, as voted on by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Most recently, he was sports anchor at WRTV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Indianapolis, where he won an Emmy Award for his coverage of the 2016 Indianapolis 500. Also prior to his joining YES, he was the Indiana Pacers' public address announcer since 2010. He will continue co-hosting the Grady and Big Joe Show with former Indianapolis Colts player Joe Staysniak on 107.5 ESPN Radio in Indianapolis.
"These moves strengthen what is already considered by fans and NBA insiders alike as the best local television team in the NBA," said John J. Filippelli, President of Production & Programming, YES Network. "Sarah has proven herself time and time again throughout her five years covering the Nets for us, and Mike's move to the studio will enable us to take full advantage of his Xs and Os acumen gained from more than 40 years in the NBA. We also welcome Michael Grady, an Emmy Award winner in his own right, who should fit in seamlessly, having already worked for the Indiana Pacers and having handled a variety of media roles in Indianapolis."
Recent New York Emmy Awards Won By YES for Nets Coverage:
2017: Best Play-by-Play - Ian Eagle
2017: Best Magazine Program - Nets Magazine
2016: Best Play-by-Play - Ian Eagle
2015: Best Sports Analyst - Mike Fratello
2014: Best Live/Unedited Series Coverage - YES' Brooklyn Nets Coverage
2014: Best Sports Analyst - Jim Spanarkel
2013: Best Play-by-Play - Ian Eagle
2011: Best studio host - Bob Lorenz
2010: Best studio host - Bob Lorenz
2009: Best studio host - Bob Lorenz
YES will televise a pair of Nets pre-season games - Sunday, October 8th (Knicks at Nets, 7:30 pm ET) and Wednesday, October 11th (Sixers at Nets, 7:30 pm ET). The network will also televise every Nets regular season game this year, including the season opener on Wednesday, October 18th (Nets at Indiana, 7:00 pm ET).
