But the Northampton native and Central Catholic graduate got a bonus with this gig — a winning team.

The 76ers have exceeded expectations with a 33-30 record entering Wednesday's game against Oklahoma City, and they seem playoff-bound.

The team's improved play has spiked enthusiasm and interest in the team, and that makes for more fun at the Wells Fargo Center.

"I knew I would enjoy this assignment, but I never thought this team would do as well as it has, and that makes the whole experience more enjoyable," said the 27-year-old Marakovits, who played collegiate volleyball at La Salle before embarking on her TV/radio career.

"This team has meshed very quickly under Doug Collins after Eddie Jordan left the team in shambles," Marakovits added. "He's done a fantastic job. He has gotten guys to accept their roles. He's developing the younger players, and Elton Brand is now becoming the player everyone thought he would be when he came over from the Clippers."

Marakovits has covered all major sports for various radio and TV outlets. Area viewers may know her best as the roving reporter for Service Electric TV2 during the first two seasons of IronPigs baseball.

But Marakovits knows basketball best.

"Basketball has always been such a big focus for our family," she said. "It was ingrained in us as kids at an early age. We have a picture of me and my two brothers posing with Charles Barkley at 76ers camp. It must have been a long time ago because Charles is pretty skinny."

Her father, Dan, was a standout player and high school coach at Northampton and currently works as a color analyst for Service Electric.

Her brother, Danny, was on a Central Catholic team that reached the state finals and later played at the University of Miami.

"For me to be covering basketball is pretty cool, especially in the town that I consider home and covering the team that I used to root for," she said.

Because she has the basketball background and prepares diligently for each broadcast, the players have come to respect Marakovits when she does pregame interviews.

She also has developed a rapport with Collins.