Trail Blazers mourn loss of beloved radio announcer Brian Wheeler

The Trail Blazers announced that Wheeler, fondly known as Wheels, peacefully passed away on Friday after battling a prolonged 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.