Miami Radio: NBA Heat Voice Mike Inglis Retires

Miami Heat Composite

Veteran broadcaster, Mike Inglis, has decided to retire after serving as the Miami Heat’s English Radio play-by-play voice for more than two decades. 

In 23 seasons, Inglis called nearly 2,200 contests, including 216 playoff games. He was on the microphone for all 35 of the team’s NBA Finals games during their six appearances in the sport’s pinnacle series with his voice serving as the soundtrack of the team’s unforgettable NBA Championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

Hired prior to the start of the 1998 season, Inglis is one of just two people to ever hold the role as the team’s English play-by-play radio voice. His tenure will forever be associated with the most successful eras in HEAT basketball, and his legendary call commemorating the team’s initial title in 2006, “for the first time in franchise history, there will be a parade down Biscayne Boulevard!” remains one of the signature treasures in the archives of HEAT broadcasting. His 23 years as a broadcaster trail only those amassed by Eric Reid and José Pañeda, who begin their 34th and 33rd seasons, respectively.

In a remarkable testament to his durability and longevity, Inglis missed just five games over his HEAT career. The HEAT were the final stop during a distinguished media career that spanned nearly 50 years, one which included radio and TV work in the NFL, CFL, NBA and various hockey leagues.

Inglis will return for a yet-to-be-determined broadcast during the upcoming season in order to bid farewell to HEAT fans. The team will announce plans to fill the vacant broadcast position at a later date.

“Words could never describe how grateful I am to have had the privilege of broadcasting for the best sports organization in the Miami Heat,” Inglis said in a statement. “The past 23 years have been filled with friendships and experiences that, in my wildest dreams, I could have never imagined."

Calling games on flagship station WAXY 790 AM, Inglis worked in recent seasons alongside a combination of Ruth Riley-Hunter and Ron Rothstein.

Before that, he called games with John Crotty, until Crotty replaced Tony Fiorentino as Eric Reid’s partner on Heat television broadcasts to begin the 2017-18 season.

The Heat intends to continue producing separate television and radio broadcasts, but a successor for Inglis was not named. Heat TV studio host Jason Jackson is among possible replacements.