Who is the new Miami Heat PA announcer? ‘I got the best seat in the house’

Miami Heat admin September 30, 2026 0 Comments

Who is the new Miami Heat PA announcer? ‘I got the best seat in the house’

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami president and CEO Gale Nelson will step into the void left behind by Michael Baiamonte’s retirement as the Miami Heat’s new public address announcer, the team announced Wednesday. And the Heat’s new superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is already impressed by Nelson’s skills on the microphone.

During Monday introductions at an event for Heat players, Nelson made sure he correctly pronounced Antetokounmpo’s last name, which is a Greek version of a Nigerian name.

“Giannis is like, ‘Are you Nigerian?” Nelson, 57, said. “I said, ‘No, brother. But I’ve done my research.’”

Nelson has been in Miami for 33 years, working in education and nonprofits. He has made it his life’s work to mentor children and support families, overseeing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami since 2018 while ensuring and maximizing donor and community engagement.

But Nelson’s journey to his new position as the Heat’s in-arena voice began when he was a high schooler in Toledo, Ohio.

One of Nelson’s mentors, Jim Ray, played in the NBA in the late 1950s and was the principal at Nelson’s alma mater, Bowsher High School. Nelson was nervous when he was unexpectedly called to the principal’s office.

“He gave me a microphone and he said, ‘You’re going to do the sports announcements,’” Nelson remembered. “And I started doing pep rallies, sports announcements, doing some basketball games and all of that.”

Despite his passion for sports, Nelson majored in business at the University of Toledo before working as a nonprofit executive. His energy as an event emcee and public speaker helped him prepare for his role as Heat announcer

Nelson, who has never called an NBA game before, said he received a phone call encouraging him to audition for the Heat’s public address announcer opening.

“It was a rigorous process, a competitive process, obviously,” Nelson said of his audition. “But the standard, Heat culture, it just permeated through every single thing. And then when I got the call that I’m the new voice of the Heat, it’s humbling. It’s challenging. But most importantly, it’s just exciting to bring the heat. Every Heat home game, I got the best seat in the house.”

Nelson has learned a lot about his new opportunity from his predecessor and friend, Baiamonte, who he got to know because of the Heat’s 20-year partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. But Nelson is also trying to bring his own style to the role.

“Mike B is a dear friend. He will always be one of my mentors,” said Nelson, who becomes the third Heat PA announcer in team history. “But what I love about it is when I get on the mic, it’s me. And I’m bringing my personality and my sunglasses from time to time, wink, wink, for certain portions of the game.”

Michael McCullough, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the Heat said: “Gale brings a unique style and his very distinctive voice to the PA announcer position. We were intrigued right from the start when we heard Gale, and we knew he could be exactly what we were looking for.”

Baiamonte is widely known as the “Voice of the Heat,” serving as the team’s PA announcer for 35 seasons before retiring at the end of last season. He was the Heat’s in-arena voice for all three of its NBA championships in 2006, 2012 and 2013.

“Dos minutos” at the two-minute mark of every quarter became one of Baiamonte’s signature calls. While Nelson will establish his own trademark calls, he’s keeping Baiamonte’s “Dos minutos” around.

“I want to alleviate any fears because ‘Dos minutos’ is here to stay because this is Miami,” Nelson said with a laugh. “So I’m putting that out there right now because, again, my mama didn’t raise any fools. So that stays. That’s a part of Heat culture. But now in addition to that, my personality, a little shimmy, a little soul.”

With the NBA season’s tipoff quickly approaching, Nelson is embracing the challenge of filling Baiamonte’s shoes.

“I don’t see it as pressure,” Nelson said. “I see it as a privilege to carry on the legacy of Mike B, to carry on the Heat legacy. And I’ve spoken with Mike throughout this process, and he’s been nothing short of just incredible, helpful, kind, and just classy. And it’s a privilege to pick up this microphone and carry on the legacy.”

Nelson will make his public debut as the Heat’s new PA announcer on Tuesday when the Heat holds its annual “Red, White and Pink Game” intrasquad scrimmage at Kaseya Center in downtown Miami. The Heat then plays its first home preseason game on Thursday, Oct. 8 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

But Nelson’s new role with the Heat won’t keep him away from his work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. Nelson will continue to serve as the organization’s president and CEO, and is thankful for the support of his board.

“My incredible team and board and staff at Big Brothers Big Sisters, they are in full support of me,” Nelson said. “But most importantly, Miami is what I love, and I look forward to just being totally aligned with the mentorship, the microphone, and most importantly, the beautiful city of Miami.”

This story was originally published September 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM.