The Voice of the Hornets Is Creating His Own Buzz

Eric Collins, the TV play-by-play announcer for the Charlotte Hornets, has gained new fans this season with his high-energy broadcasts showcasing the rookie LaMelo Ball.

Some basketball pairings sync seamlessly. Think Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Bill Russell and Red Auerbach and Eric Collins and LaMelo Ball. That last tandem might not be the first to come to mind. But Collins, the Charlotte Hornets’ television play-by-play announcer, has served as the ideal conduit to introduce Ball and his dynamic play to a wide N.B.A. audience. “He’s seeing the game five seconds ahead of everyone else,” Collins said.