CLIPPERS AND CAVALIERS
- After having served as the lead color analyst for the Los Angeles Clippers from 1990 to 1992, Mike Fratello “The Czar” returned to their organization for the 2018 season as a rotating analyst. A respected basketball authority, Fratello continues to serve in this role with the Clippers, engaging and entertaining hoops fans with his sharp game analysis, unique insights and playful banter.
- Since 2016, Coach Fratello has joined select FOX Sports Ohio (now Bally Sports Ohio) Cavaliers Live pregame and postgame shows as a guest analyst to provide commentary, break down the action and offer a coach’s perspective.
- In 2014, Fast Break with Fratello aired on FOX 8 News in the Morning, during which Coach Fratello previewed and reviewed the biggest Cavs games.
TURNER SPORTS
- In recent years, Fratello has returned to the TNT broadcast booth for select NBA on TNT telecasts.
- From 2014-2019 “The Czar” joined the NBA GameTime Live crew to deliver game analysis and to help cover breaking news around the league on NBA TV.
- From 2009-2013 Fratello worked alongside Marv Albert, Steve Kerr, Dick Stockton, Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller for TNT’s exclusive Thursday night NBA coverage. He also made regular appearances on NBA TV.
- Fratello previously served as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports during the playoffs from 1994-96, during the regular season from 1999-2004 and during the 2007 playoffs.
YES NETWORK
- Fratello assumed the role of YES’ Nets studio analyst in advance of the 2017-18 NBA season, joining hosts Chris Shearn, Nancy Newman and Bob Lorenz.
- In 2015 Fratello took home the New York Emmy for Best Sports Analyst.
- In 2014, Fratello was a member of YES’ Nets broadcast team that won a New York Emmy for Best Live Sports Series.
- Fratello earned New York Emmy Award nominations in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 for his work on YES.
- Fratello joined YES Network as a color commentator for Nets broadcasts in October 2008 and teamed up with legendary play-by-play announcers Marv Albert and Ian Eagle as well as rising star Ryan Ruocco for nine seasons.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Fratello was head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies (2004-2006), Cleveland Cavaliers (1993-99) and Atlanta Hawks (1983-1990).
- With a career head coaching record of 667-548 and a .549 winning percentage, Fratello ranks #23 for NBA all-time regular season wins and total regular season games coached.
- Fratello’s teams qualified for the playoffs in 11 times during his 16-season NBA head coaching career.
- Fratello captured the Central Division Title in 1987 with 57 wins and coached the East to a 138-133 victory in the 1988 All-Star Game.
- During the 1986-87 season, Fratello was named Coach of the Year by five different organizations: NBA/Hagger, The Sporting News, NBA/Miller Lite, Basketball Weekly and Basketball Digest.
- Early in his coaching career, Fratello worked as an assistant basketball coach at Rhode Island, James Madison and Villanova.
- In between coaching positions, Fratello built a successful career as a sportscaster with national networks NBC and TNT, as well as YES and several other local networks covering Nets, Pistons, Clippers, Heat and Cavaliers games.
- Fratello was dubbed “Czar of the Telestrator” by Marv Albert for his wizardry in diagramming plays on-screen with NBC in the early nineties.
- Fratello was a member of the Fox Sports Ohio broadcast team that won a Lower Great Lakes Emmy award for their Cavaliers Live Pregame – 2017 Playoffs and NBA Finals.
- Fratello coached the Ukraine National Team in the 2011 FIBA European Championship.
- In 2012 Fratello returned to coach Ukraine in the EuroBasket 2013 Qualification Tournament and successfully clinched a spot to compete in Slovenia the following year.
- Coach Fratello made history when he led Ukraine to a sixth place finish in the 2013 FIBA European Championship, thereby earning an automatic bid to the 2014 World Championship for the first time.
- In the summer of 2014, Fratello coached the Ukraine National Team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.
PERSONAL
- Fratello has been involved with a number of charitable organizations over the years including Friends of Fratello Foundation, Special Olympics, Cornerstone of Hope, Shoes for Kids, Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research, Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and Cleveland Indians Charities.
- Fratello continues to be a member of the Orthopedic Council at the Cleveland Clinic.
- Fratello attended Montclair State College in Montclair, N.J. on a football scholarship.
- Fratello graduated from Hackensack High School in Hackensack, N.J., where he was captain of the basketball, baseball and football teams. He was named to the Bergen “All County” Football team as a center in his senior year.
