If you haven’t seen his face at a Detroit Pistons game, perhaps you've caught him at a Michigan State basketball game. Or heard his voice on the radio. Or watched him on the big screen before a movie.
Kevin Irwin II is everywhere. The Pistons' in-arena host at Little Caesars Arena since 2020, Irwin – who goes by his stage name and social media handle, KevKnows – is rapidly building a resume as one of the most recognizable faces in Detroit.
Born on the East side of the city but raised on the West, Irwin also has been the in-arena host at Breslin Center for MSU men's basketball since 2023. That same year, he joined long-running Michigan morning radio talk show "Mojo In The Morning."
He recently was in a brand campaign for Emagine Theaters, appearing on screen alongside founder Paul Glantz during previews.
The motivation driving Irwin's busy schedule? It puts him in positions to uplift. He speaks openly about his Christian faith and said he prays daily for the opportunity and ability to inspire other people.
"Everything comes back to God for me," Irwin, 36, recently told the Free Press. "I firmly believe that my purpose is to utilize words to inspire and motivate people to be the best version of themselves."
His journey started at the Detroit School of Arts, where he pursued his childhood dream of becoming an actor. He acted competitively with the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association, which, according to their website, has a mission to empower "students to become proficient and ethical communicators, critical thinkers, lifelong learners, and leaders in a democratic society through interscholastic speech, theater, and debate activities."
Though he didn't apply for college, he attended the Specs Howard School of Media Arts. He later landed a job at Quicken Loans, where he was an associate banker and closing club associate before he made a request for a bigger role. Eventually he was promoted to cultural ambassador, a new role that involved a variety of responsibilities, including hosting various events across the city and leading recruiting efforts at colleges.
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From there, he began working as a cultural ambassador for Stock X in 2018, where he starred in YouTube and social media content and traveled for on-site openings worldwide. His opportunity with the Pistons finally arrived in 2020 – following more than a year of networking with team employees – when former Pistons’ vice president of brand and marketing strategy Tyrel Kirkham and former chief business officer Mike Zavodsky reached out while seeking ways to bring more local authenticity to Pistons games.
Irwin's first season was the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season, which he says allowed him to do something rarely granted in live entertainment – practice. By opening night in 2021, he felt prepared when Cade Cunningham was introduced to a sellout crowd that fall.
Over the years, opportunities kept rolling in as people became acquainted with him through the Pistons.
A typical day for Irwin starts at 4:30 a.m. so he can do "Mojo in the Morning" by 6 a.m. He's on air until 10:30 a.m. Then, he'll either pick up his 13-year-old son, Josiah, from school and drop him off, or take a nap before heading to either Little Caesars Arena for his Pistons responsibilities or driving to East Lansing for the Spartans.
Pistons games take precedence when both teams play the same night.
Irwin credits his 95-year-old grandmother, Ruthenia Henderson, for his love for sports.
"When the Pistons win a championship, she was the reason we went to the parade," he said. "When the Red Wings back in the 90s were winning back-to-back, she was the reason we went to the parade. When I was growing up, she was the reason I was watching basketball. My grandma is the biggest sports fan of all time. She’s the reason I love sports, the reason why my passion for sports and entertainment and the Pistons is where it’s at."
Irwin said he finds comfort in knowing he's not only operating in his purpose, but leading with love and positivity. And that's the takeaway he hopes fans leave the arena with.
"And also to inspire people, not just kids but adults," he said. "We don’t always have it figured out even when you’re 30 years old and 40 years old. Some people think, and it may be true at times, that it’s harder to go after your dreams or pursue certain things because you have more responsibilities, but hopefully I’m a beacon of possibility to show people that it is possible as long as you believe, and never to lose that belief.
"Just to bring some people joy, man, in those two-and-a half hours. If I can do that, then I’ve done my job."
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