Seattle announcer headed to SF for Golden State Warriors

If you’ve paid attention to Seattle sports over the last 15 years or so, you have likely heard the voice of Matt Pitman.

He’s served as the PA announcer for the SuperSonics and The Storm, been an on-air personality for various radio stations, including 710 ESPN Seattle. He’s also been the voice behind Seattle’s new Seawolves rugby squad.

But now, if you want to hear Pitman’s voice leading cheering crowds, echoing throughout a stadium, you’ll have to catch a Golden State Warriors game at their new home — San Francisco’s Chase Center.

“I am humbled and honored … I will be going to San Francisco,” Pitman told KIRO Nights. “I will be moving there to become the new public address announcer for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA. I will also be joining the organization in their front office, in the prestigious Warriors studio. That is their in-house video production team.”

“They are moving into the Chase Center on the east bay waterfront in San Francisco, moving over from Oakland into San Francisco for the first time in franchise history,” he said.

Pitman gave his first interview about the new position — being the first announcer at the new Chase Center — to KIRO Nights.

“I’m still pinching myself,” he said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. I started doing PA announcing with the Sonics when I was 23 years old. I’m on my 14th season with The Storm.”

Pitman will be finishing The Storm season up here in Seattle.

He is, however, already practicing a few announcements for when Steph Curry sinks a shot. He has years of experience to pull from.

“Camille Little, who played on The Storm’s 2010 championship team … during early, early pregame warmups, she said ‘Hey, you know how the Bulls’ dude used to do Michael Jordan? Can you do me like that?'”

“So I had to go on YouTube, find it, and that night I did, lights were out at KeyArena,” Pitman said. “…And so for the rest of her time here, I did that and it became this thing. And when she left, the first time she came back with the Phoenix Mercury, who are like the arch rivals of The Storm, I did it, but like in a lower key.”

Prior to his arrival at Chase Center for the next season, Warriors President and COO, Rick Welts said:

As we prepare to open Chase Center, we’re thrilled to have Matt on-board as the voice of this world-class venue. He had a long and successful run with both the SuperSonics and Storm in Seattle, where his distinct and commanding voice became synonymous with KeyArena and the excitement of NBA and WNBA basketball. He’s a true professional and will be a terrific addition to our overall presentation.

Matt Pitman was employed as KIRO Radio’s imaging director prior to his role with the Warriors.