In Episode 2 of Courtside, host Marc Israel sits down with Jonathan Sanford, the public address announcer for the Houston Rockets and the University of Texas Longhorns, to explore the hidden craft behind the NBA game-day experience.

Jonathan shares his remarkable journey from a small town in Alabama to announcing NBA Finals games, winning a championship with the San Antonio Spurs, and ultimately becoming the voice fans hear inside Toyota Center.

This episode explores:

• 🎙️ What a public address announcer actually does during an NBA game
• 🏀 How arena energy is built, managed, and protected
• ⏱️ The precision behind timeouts, music cues, and in-game entertainment
• 🤝 Why relationships, preparation, and reliability matter
• ❤️ The powerful story behind the fan-favorite “Two Shots” call

Jonathan also discusses working with officials, coordinating with game operations, respecting player identities through pronunciation, and why PA announcing offers a level of fan connection that radio and television simply can’t match.

If you’ve ever wondered how the NBA experience comes together beyond the court, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the voice that helps bring it all to life.

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New episodes drop weekly, bringing you conversations from inside the NBA and the people who live the game every day.