Color commentator Bob Ortegel will be no longer be part of the Dallas Mavericks’ broadcasts.
“I’m extremely grateful for the 23 years I’ve been with the Mavericks,” said Ortegel, a 70-year-old former college head coach who entered broadcasting after a stint in the corporate world. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Owner Mark Cuban made the decision to pull Ortegel off the team’s television broadcasts, replacing him with a rotation of former Mavericks point guards Derek Harper and Brad Davis.
Ortegel’s last game was the Mavs’ Jan. 27 win over the Houston Rockets. Harper has worked the home games and Davis worked the road games since then.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to freshen things up and try some different things,” Cuban said Monday night before Ortegel's departure had been finalized.
On Tuesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail: "Bob has been an amazing part of the Mavs organization for 23 years. He has represented us not only in media, but to organizations across the country. We were hoping for him to stay, but the door is always open to him to return.
"We wish him nothing but the best."
Ortegel confirmed that he was given other options to remain with the organization, including working as the color commentator on the ESPN 103.3 radio broadcasts.
“After some serious thought and discussion, I declined,” said Ortegel, who was moved from television to radio for the 2007-08 season.
Ortegel did offer one last bit of Mavericks analysis: “I sincerely believe that if this team stays healthy that they’ve got a chance [to win a championship].”