The current logo used for ESPN's NBA coverage (2022-present). (📸 Photo courtesy of ESPN Press Room)
| 🞙 Saturday, August 30, 2025
- Established NBA on ESPN commentator Tim Legler joins Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Mike Breen, 2016 NBA Champion Richard Jefferson, and reporter Lisa Salters to create a new lead broadcast team.
- ESPN reaches multi-year deals with NBA analysts Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke. Burke now becomes the lead analyst for the "NBA Sunday Showcase" franchise, working marquee regular-season Sunday afternoon games in addition to NBA Playoff assignments.
Earlier this week, ESPN revealed its commentator lineup for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. Longtime ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler gets the call to join Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame play-by-play commentator Mike Breen, analyst and 2016 NBA Champion Richard Jefferson, and sideline reporter Lisa Salters on the lead broadcast team.
Breen, Jefferson, Legler, and Salters will call the 2026 NBA Finals on ABC, a Conference Finals series, marquee first-round and second-round playoff games, a Christmas Day game, and NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC — the national NBA game of the week. Legler celebrates his 25th anniversary at ESPN in 2025, having been with the company providing analysis on the NBA since 2000.
ESPN has rehired Jefferson on a multi-year deal to continue his work in studio and game coverage events. Jefferson, who won an NBA Championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, called his NBA Finals in 2025. Richard initially joined ESPN in 2019 as a studio analyst, before transitioning to a hybrid role of studio analyst/game analyst in more recent years. With this new deal, Jefferson is set to continue calling top-tier games on ESPN and ABC in addition to appearing on studio programming throughout the year on an occasional basis.
ESPN, Doris Burke Reach Extension To Continue 30+ Year Relationship:
Doris Burke, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, has signed a new multi-year deal with ESPN. Doris will continue to be seen on ESPN and ABC, including the NBA Sunday Showcase program. Burke's slate of games includes regular-season and postseason contests. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Burke is expected to call most of her games with play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch. As a result of Burke's new contract with ESPN, her time at the Worldwide Leader will span over 35 years. Burke first joined ESPN in 1991 as a basketball analyst and has been with ESPN/ABC ever since, covering basketball in various roles. Burke has worked 17 NBA Finals during her career, including 11 as a sideline reporter and 6 as a game analyst (television or radio).
2025-26 NBA on ESPN/ABC Game Announcers:
When ESPN begins its 24th NBA season in October, the network's coverage of NBA basketball will feature a robust lineup of play-by-play commentators, analysts, and sideline reporters. Dave Pasch, Mark Jones, and Ryan Ruocco join Breen as additional play-by-play commentators. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame broadcaster Jay Bilas and two-time Executive of the Year Bob Myers return as additional game analysts to supplement Burke, Legler, and Jefferson. Salters will be responsible for leading ESPN's revamped sideline reporter lineup, including Katie George and Jorge Sedano. More sideline reporters will be added later on.
Play-By-Play: Mike Breen (lead), Dave Pasch (#2), Mark Jones, Ryan Ruocco
Analyst: Tim Legler (co-lead), Richard Jefferson (co-lead), Doris Burke (#2), Jay Bilas, Bob Myers
Sideline Reporter: Lisa Salters (lead), Katie George, Jorge Sedano
|| Sources 🛈: ESPN Press Room ||
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