As a 15-year-old, Gareth Kwok attended his first AAJA National Convention with his aunt. He was intrigued with the possibilities of a sports broadcasting career. He took pictures with the likes of Cary Chow, Kevin Negandhi, and Tommy Tran. And he also had a picture taken with the legend known widely throughout the AAJA community as “The Godfather” – Michael Kim.
Fast forward to the present day, with Kwok having turned the inspiration from that AAJA convention into a career passion doing sports play-by-play for various teams and various sports. The Arizona State alumnus received a call from a number he didn’t recognize.
It was Kim informing Kwok that he was the recipient of the 2026 Michael Kim Journalism Fellowship through AAJA’s Sports Task Force, an award designed to help young professionals such as Kwok, with $2,500 of financial aid.
“I don’t usually answer calls from unknown numbers,” Kwok said. “But to pick up the phone and hear Michael’s voice on the other end was such a pleasant surprise. I was incredibly excited to hear him share the news. It’s certainly a moment I won’t forget!”
Kwok is the play-by-play voice of the Rip City Remix of the NBA’s G-League. For anyone who has witnessed the behind-the-scenes of G-League broadcasts, it is a far cry from the set-up at NBA arenas. This past December, Kwok made his milestone NBA broadcast debut, filling in on play-by-play for the Portland Trail Blazers Radio Network.
Not only is Kwok the play-by-play voice for a basketball team throughout the season, he balances this with his recent new gig as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Production for the Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer Baseball League. He’s also had minor league baseball play-by-play experience with the Chesapeake Baysox (simultaneously with his Rip City job), New Hampshire Fisher Cats, and the Frederick Keys. Kwok’s path exemplifies the grind it often takes to follow his dreams and aspirations.
“I don’t know if I’ve seen a more impressive or more accomplished young journalist at this stage of his career than Gareth,” Kim said. “He has shown that he is willing to do whatever it takes and go wherever he must to take advantage of opportunities. That he already has an NBA game on his resume speaks volumes. He’s only going to get better. Remember his name — and his voice!”
One of the judges agreed with Kim, noting that Kwok has an “excellent play-by-play voice” and that he “made G-League highlights feel elevated.”
Another wrote that Kwok “taking responsibility for his own travel at the minor league level shows commitment and work ethic, especially at this stage.”
That’s where the $2,500 from Kim’s award can really help. Kwok has no health benefits with what he’s paid, and he has to take care of his own travel to and from his Bay Area home to his different jobs in different cities.
“I am incredibly honored to be this year’s recipient of the Michael Kim Journalism Fellowship,” Kwok said. “As someone who has long admired (Kim’s) work and his impact on Asian Americans in sports journalism, I’m deeply grateful for his support and for the opportunities that this fellowship will create.”
The Michael Kim Journalism Fellowship is dedicated to Kim, a groundbreaking anchor who opened doors for the Asian community at ESPN. He was an anchor at SportsCenter for 17 years and was one of the original anchors who launched ESPNews.
About The Recipient: Gareth Kwok
Gareth Kwok is a play-by-play broadcaster with experience calling NBA G League basketball, Minor League Baseball, and NCAA Division I athletics. A San Francisco Bay Area native, he is currently in his third season as the TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Rip City Remix, the NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers. In December 2025, Gareth made his NBA play-by-play broadcast debut on radio as a fill-in for the Trail Blazers Audio Network.
His broadcasting career in Minor League Baseball has included stops with the Chesapeake Baysox (Double-A, Baltimore Orioles), New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Double-A, Toronto Blue Jays), and Frederick Keys (High-A, Baltimore Orioles). Gareth has also broadcasted for the Arizona State Sun Devil Radio Network on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, the NBA G League Winter Showcase on NBA TV, and the Arizona Fall League on MLB.com. He is a 2022 graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
About AAJA’s Scholarships
AAJA annually offers up to $20,000 in scholarships and grants to journalism students to help offset the costs of education, internships, living expenses and other opportunities. These scholarships are made possible by supporters such as AAJA members, allies and generous donors. To learn more about AAJA scholarships or donate, visit https://www.aaja.org/news-and-resources/scholarships-internships/.
