Brian Wheeler, beloved Trail Blazers radio voice, passes away after long battle with illness

Brian Wheeler, former Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster and the voice of the team from 1998-2019, has passed away at the age of 62, the team announced.

The Trail Blazers said Wheeler, affectionately called Wheels, passed away on Friday following a long illness.

Wheeler had stints with the Sacramento Kings, the Seattle SuperSonics and the Chicago Bulls before his 21 seasons in Portland.

Known for the exclamation “Boom shakalaka!” Wheeler was named Oregon Sportscaster of the Year in 2007.

“His love for the game and passion for the Trail Blazers came through in every radio call, making each play a thrill for every listener tuning in,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.