Monday, August 14, 2023

2023 - 2024 NBA on ESPN Announcers

Caption: The current NBA on ESPN logo (2023-present). Photo credit: SportsVideo.org
  • Malika Andrews (host) now leads all of ESPN and ABC's game coverage, serving as the new host of NBA Countdown.
  • Two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers (analyst) joins ESPN as an analyst for NBA Countdown on ABC and games.
  • Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), JJ Redick (analyst) & Richard Jefferson (analyst) compose new, regular broadcasting team
  • Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown enters 20th season with ESPN/ABC and unprecedented 50th season in the NBA
On Monday afternoon, ESPN presented their reconfigured NBA game and studio coverage plans for the upcoming 2023-24 season, which will start on ESPN on Wednesday, October 25 (the complete season schedule is set for release this week). 2008 NBA Champion Doc Rivers (analyst) officially joins Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Mike Breen (play-by-play) and Doris Burke (analyst) to form the new lead commentary team. Burke and Rivers replace Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, who were unfortunately let go by ESPN this summer. This trio, alongside returning sideline reporter Lisa Salters, will work the NBA Finals, Eastern Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs, Christmas Day and the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series. The team will make its debut during ESPN's opening week of coverage in October. ESPN reached a multi-year contract deal for Rivers and a multi-year extension in Burke's case.

Doris Burke, who has worked the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio for the last four seasons, will become the first woman to ever serve as a television analyst for the championship series. Before Burke's full-time move to provide analysis on games, Burke is probably best known for serving as the NBA Finals sideline reporter for 11 seasons on ABC (2009-2019). Doris has been calling basketball games on ESPN and/or ABC in some fashion since 1991 (NBA, women's college, men's college & the WNBA). Doc Rivers, who coached for 25 seasons and played for 14 more seasons, returns to television broadcasting following previous stints with TNT (1996-99) and ESPN/ABC (2003-04, including calling the 2004 NBA Finals alongside the great Al Michaels). Mike Breen begins his 19th season as the voice of the NBA Finals on ABC and ESPN/ABC's lead play-by-play commentator. Mike has called games for ESPN and/or ABC since the 2003-04 season (entering his 21st year of service with ESPN/ABC).

NOTE: With Doc Rivers leaving broadcasting in late January to join the Bucks as their new head coach, JJ Redick (previously the co-#2 analyst alongside Richard Jefferson) has been promoted to replace Rivers on the network's lead broadcasting team.

(ESPN PR/Twitter)

Malika Andrews to host all editions of NBA Countdown
ESPN host/journalist Malika Andrews has been promoted to the new lead host of NBA Countdown. Previously, Andrews worked on the Wednesday editions of the show. Andrews' new NBA Countdown role includes the weekend ABC shows & NBA Finals pregame and halftime broadcasts. Andrews, a respected reporter, will continue as NBA Today host to supplement her new NBA Countdown role. Returning to NBA Countdown this year is Stephen A. Smith (analyst), Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame journalist Michael Wilbon (analyst), and ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski (insider).

Bob Myers joins ESPN/ABC to call games and work in the studio
Bob Myers, best known as the longtime general manager of the Golden State Warriors and the architect of Golden State's four most recent championship teams, moves from the front office to a broadcasting role with ESPN. Myers will be on the ABC panel on NBA Countdown (NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC and ABC Sunday Showcase) during the regular season and the NBA Playoffs. Myers will work games during the season as well. Myers joins Andrews, Smith, Wilbon and Wojnarowski to create the new NBA Countdown team.
(ESPN PR/Twitter)

The Wednesday and Friday editions of NBA Countdown feature host Malika Andrews, paired with analysts Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, and Chiney Ogwumike. Wojnarowski reports regularly as well.
(ESPN PR/Twitter)

New Broadcast Team
ESPN has constructed a new secondary broadcasting team for the upcoming year. It will be made up of Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play), JJ Redick (analyst) & Richard Jefferson (analyst). The team will call the NBA Sunday Showcase series on ABC, plus work together on marquee events throughout the year and into the NBA postseason. They replace Mark Jones and Doris Burke on the ABC Sunday telecasts (with Burke now the co-lead analyst and Jones remaining on NBA coverage, albeit in a somewhat reduced role). Jefferson's game analyst expansion position with ESPN is part of a new multi-year extension. The team will make the debut during ESPN's opening week coverage in October.

(ESPN PR/Twitter)

ESPN play-by-play commentators Mark Jones and Dave Pasch will also return to call NBA games in 2023-24. Jones, who also works as the primary television voice of the Sacramento Kings, has called events for ESPN/ABC for 33 years (mainly the NBA and college football). Jones joined ESPN in 1990. Pasch, who also serves as the primary radio voice of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, begins his 20th year of service with ESPN. Pasch has served as an ESPN play-by-play commentator for multiple sports, including the NBA, college football, college basketball, and believe it or not, even Major League Baseball (!). Pasch joined ESPN in 2003.

Hubie Brown's 50th NBA Season
ESPN has also reached an extension with Naismith Basketball of Famer Hubie Brown. The legendary coach and analyst will begin his 20th season with ESPN/ABC and his 50th in the NBA, an unprecedented milestone. Brown will call games during the season, mostly with Mark Jones and Dave Pasch.
(ESPN PR/Twitter)

ESPN NBA Game Commentator Lineups
  • Play-By-Play: Mike Breen, Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch
  • Analysts: Doris Burke, Doc Rivers, JJ Redick, Richard Jefferson, Hubie Brown, Bob Myers
  • Sideline Reporters: Lisa Salters, Cassidy Hubbarth, Monica McNutt, Katie George, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, Jorge Sedano 
(ESPN PR/Twitter)

* If needed, additional commentators will be used as well.

NBA Today
Moving forward, Malika Andrews will remain the primary NBA Today host. NBA Today is ESPN's official weekday NBA studio show, which is now starting its third season on the air. Andrews will continue to be joined by analysts Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike and senior writers Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne. On select days, Ogwumike will fill-in for Andrews as host. NBA Today airs on ESPN from 3:00 PM (ET) to 4:00 PM (ET), Mondays through Fridays.


- Source(s): ESPN Press Room.
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1 comment:

  1. Robert Thompson September 19, 2023 at 1:21 PM

    I am glad to hear that Malika Andrews will remain front and center on the NBA Today telecast. I love her personality and she is a total cutie. Not a bad combination at all. Plus she's knowledgeable when it comes to covering sports.

    ReplyDelete

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