Michael Grady, Indy sports announcer, joins YES as sideline reporter

Michael Grady, who’s been the Indiana Pacers public address announcer ... and a local sports reporter in his native Indiana, is moving to New York to be the Nets new sideline reporter. Grady announced the move in a series of tweets.

“I am joining the YES Network in New York as sideline reporter for the Brooklyn Nets,” Grady wrote in a farewell note to his fans.

Grady has been an Indiana sports fixture for more than a decade. As the Indy Star reported,

The Warren Central High School graduate has been the Indiana Pacers public address announcer, a sports talk show host on WFNI-AM (1070) and -FM (107.5) and a sports reporter and anchor for WRTV-6.

Grady will be officially announced by YES when it reveals its new lineup next week, a Nets insider source added. Sarah Kustok, who has been sideline reporter the last five years, will return, but this time as an analyst, according to an Indiana sports site.

In the podcast, Kustok talks about her excitement.

“I’m psyched,” Kustok said on the Road Trippin’ with RJ & Channing podcast. “It’s incredible…The opportunity to call games, this is not work. It’s a dream to get to do. You talk about being a female — I don’t always love the attention on that. I just want to show up and do my job and be a part of a team. It’s the opportunity to still be part of a team and have that adrenaline rush. It’s an incredible thing.”

Brian Lewis reports that Mike Fratello, the lead TV analyst last season, will be moving to the studio.

Appropriately, Grady’s first game will take place in Indianapolis next month when the Nets open on October 18 vs. the Pacers.

• Pacers PA man Michael Grady takes job in New York - Scott Horner - Indianapolis Star
• Sarah Kustok gets big Nets promotion - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Michael Grady moving to New York, hired as Brooklyn Nets sideline reporter - Scott Agness - Vigilant Sports