Sam Farber interviewed for the Charlotte Hornets radio play-by-play position in 2019 but didn’t get it the job. Though he was disappointed, Farber enjoyed the interview process and appreciated getting to know Hornets VP of Communications Mike Cristaldi, who was in charge of the hire.
When the Hornets played in Los Angeles near Farber’s home last season, he attended the game and renewed acquaintances with Cristaldi. The growing respect between the two paid off when the Charlotte job opened again this off-season.
Farber is the new Voice of the Hornets.
He has been an STAA member since the agency’s inception in 2006.
Charlotte isn’t the first time Farber has been part of an NBA broadcast team. He spent two seasons as the Los Angeles Clippers pre and postgame host and locker room reporter.
Play-by-play, though, is Farber’s passion. He has been covering college basketball and baseball for the ESPN networks since 2014. He’s been doing those same sports, and high school football, for Fox Sports West since 2015.
Farber has been a TV voice for the NBA G-League’s South Bay Lakers since 2016.
His move to the NBA does not surprise local observers. Longtime Los Angeles sports media critic Tom Hoffarth wrote last year, “When the guard starts changing, Farber will be next up on any major opening in the pro sports playing field.”
Farber’s radio play-by-play includes nine years in Minor League Baseball and basketball and baseball on radio for Santa Clara University, UC Riverside, CSUN, George Washington University and Cal Poly-Pomona.
In addition to calling games for Charlotte, Farber will also create digit content for the team.
He is a graduate of USC and The George Washington University.