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Longtime Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord reflects on 28 season behind the mic
Longtime Sixers PA announcer, Matt Cord, called his final regular season game at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA - From Allen Iverson to Joel Embiid, hundreds of players have taken the floor for the Philadelphia 76ers over the years.
But for nearly three decades, one voice has defined the game-day experience inside the arena.
That voice belongs to Matt Cord.
What we know:
After more than 1,500 games and 28 seasons as the Sixers’ public address announcer, Cord is retiring — but not before delivering a few more of his signature, spine-tingling calls.
Cord has been the voice behind the mic through generations of basketball in Philadelphia, becoming as much a part of the franchise as the players themselves.
Sixers PA announcer Matt Cord will retire at end of season: 'What a privilege it's been'
Sixers' public address announcer, Matt Cord, announced it would be his last season behind the mic at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Heading into his final regular season game, the emotions are starting to build.
"I don’t know if I’m nervous. I’m more anxious," Cord said. "I don’t know if I’ll tear up."
What they're saying:
The moment wasn’t just big for Cord — it was a family affair.
More than 70 family members and friends packed the arena to support him, including his wife Patty Ann, who called the night "bittersweet."
"I’m more emotional than he is, I think," she said. "It’s exciting, but his family is emotional. It’s a bittersweet moment."
Dig deeper:
Cord’s passion for the game — and his craft — goes far beyond the arena.
Long before tipoff, he’s been known to warm up his voice at home, making sure every introduction hits just right.
"We lived in the city and he would go on the roof and practice," Patty Ann said. "I could hear it from the bottom of the house, so the whole neighborhood knows when Matt’s warming up."
That preparation helped create one of the most recognizable calls in Philadelphia sports — his iconic introduction of Iverson.
It’s a call that fans have mimicked for years — something Cord says he takes as the highest compliment.
"It makes me feel humble," he said. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Yeah, it’s neat."
And when asked about his all-time favorite?
"Iverson’s number one," Cord said. "Finally… a 6-foot guard from Georgetown."
What's next:
As his legendary run comes to a close, Cord is hoping for one more moment behind the mic — announcing Embiid’s return and maybe even a playoff push.
The Sixers are still fighting for positioning, with at least one more game ahead in the play-in tournament.
The team plans to honor Cord during a game next season — a fitting tribute to the man whose voice became the soundtrack of Sixers basketball.