Golden State Warriors television announcer Bob Fitzgerald and analyst Kelenna Azubuike have found themselves at the bottom of the barrel, according to a recent poll conducted by sports media blog Awful Announcing.
The poll, which surveyed hundreds of fans, graded all 30 NBA broadcast teams based on performance, with participants assigning teams grades ranging from A through F.
The Warriors’ duo, Fitzgerald and Azubuike, landed at the bottom of the list, receiving the lowest average score of 0.91 GPA. Nearly 60% of respondents gave them an F, making them the least favored broadcast team by a significant margin.
This isn’t the first time the Warriors’ broadcast team has faced criticism. In previous editions of the poll, their rankings have steadily declined, with their highest ranking at No. 14 in 2016 when Fitzgerald’s partner was Jim Barnett. However, since Azubuike joined as a full-time analyst in 2019, their ratings have plummeted, landing them in 27th place in the 2020 ranking.
While some attribute the negative sentiment towards the Warriors’ success on the court, others point to the duo’s style of commentary, characterized by what some perceive as excessive bias towards the home team. Even Warriors fans have expressed dissatisfaction with their approach, leading to widespread criticism beyond just opposing fan bases.
Despite the poor fan ratings, there appears to be little incentive for change, as the Warriors’ broadcasts continue to draw steady viewership, as reflected in Nielsen ratings.
Additionally, Fitzgerald has received backing from key figures within the organization, including star player Steph Curry and owner Joe Lacob, suggesting that any potential adjustments to the broadcast team may not be imminent.