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| ESPN’s lead NBA team for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season (from L to R) — Richard Jefferson (analyst), Tim Legler (analyst) & Mike Breen (play-by-play). The team also includes reporter Lisa Salters, who is not pictured here. (Awful Announcing) |
| ⏵ Sunday, October 18, 2026 (Press Release):
🟋 Highlights:
- ESPN enters its 25th consecutive season providing live NBA event coverage.
- Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler & Lisa Salters are back as ESPN and ABC’s lead NBA broadcast team for the second straight year.
- Studio coverage for 2026-27 is highlighted by Inside the NBA and NBA Countdown, both presented by Eli Lilly, plus NBA Today on weekdays.
- NBA Champion Jeremy Lin and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd are added to ESPN’s NBA commentator roster.
Earlier this week, ESPN announced the group of NBA commentators who will document key moments throughout ESPN and ABC’s 2026-27 regular season and postseason. They include play-by-play commentators, analysts, and reporters for the historic 25th anniversary season of ESPN’s NBA coverage. Included in this lineup announcement are eight NBA champions and five Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honorees.
For more information about ESPN’s 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule, please click here. For more information about ABC’s 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule, please click here.
Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler & Lisa Salters Return as Top Team:
For the second straight year, ESPN’s NBA coverage will be led by the broadcast team of Mike Breen (play-by-play), Richard Jefferson (analyst), Tim Legler (analyst) & Lisa Salters (courtside reporter). The team will once again pair up for marquee regular-season games and lead ABC’s coverage of the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals.
Breen starts his 24th year with ESPN/ABC as either a regular or lead play-by-play commentator. Jefferson opens up Year #8 with ESPN/ABC as either a game analyst, studio analyst, or a combination of both. Jefferson won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. Legler has served as an analyst for ESPN since the year 2000, giving him over 25 years of service at the Worldwide Leader. Salters begins her 27th year with ESPN, and sixth year as the lead sideline reporter.
Other Play-By-Play Commentators:
Besides Breen, ESPN’s NBA play-by-play announcer rotation for the 2026-27 season includes veteran voices, Dave Pasch and Ryan Ruocco. Pasch and Ruocco will be tasked with calling some of the best regular-season game offerings. Current Boston Celtics lead play-by-play voice Drew Carter and ESPN superstar Mike Monaco join the regular-season cast for the first time, and will work on select games throughout the season.
Game Analysts:
ESPN’s lineup of game analysts for the 2026-27 campaign includes Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Jason Kidd and Doris Burke, Danny Green, NBA Champion Jeremy Lin, and P.J. Carlesimo. Former NBA champions Kidd and Lin make their ESPN debuts this year, while Carlesimo will work on select games when needed throughout the season.
Sideline Reporters:
ESPN lines up an experienced team of in-game reporters for the 2026-27 NBA season, including Lisa Salters, Katie George, Malika Andrews, Jorge Sedano, Alyssa Lang, Taylor McGregor, Vanessa Richardson, and Angel Gray. This group of reporters will handle reporting duties, interviews, and feature stories from around the Association during ESPN and ABC’s regular-season and playoff broadcasts.
Studio Coverage:
As previously announced, “Inside the NBA,” presented by Eli Lilly, will feature 25 regular-season broadcasts across ESPN and ABC during the 2026-27 season.
The award-winning studio show, hosted by Ernie Johnson Jr. and featuring analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith, will deliver comprehensive pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage for many of ESPN and ABC’s premier NBA game windows and events. Produced by Turner Sports (TNT Sports) from its Atlanta studios, the program promises to engage basketball fans with insightful commentary and analysis.
The broadcast schedule will kick off during the NBA’s American Express Tip-Off. It will extend throughout the season, including special presentations on NBA Christmas Day, presented by State Farm, as well as NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC.
When Inside does not air, ESPN and ABC will air regular editions of NBA Countdown presented by Eli Lilly with a revamped cast. Malika Andrews returns for her fourth season as NBA Countdown host, joined once again by ESPN Senior NBA Writer Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, and 2008 NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins. This year, the program welcomes 2011 NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Jason Kidd. Furthermore, analyst Kenny Smith will pop in from time to time. Collectively, Andrews, Perkins, Kidd, Windhorst, and Charania will lead ABC and ESPN’s pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage throughout the year.
NBA Today, ESPN’s daily NBA studio program, celebrates its fifth season in 2026-27. Andrews will once again serve as the main host of the show, with Jorge Sedano, Hannah Storm, Chiney Ogwumike and others filling in when Andrews is off or on assignment. Analysts and contributors include Iman Shumpert, Danny Green, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin, Tim MacMahon, Bobby Marks, Shams Charania, among others.
ESPN is pleased to welcome Hall of Famer and one of the best point guards of all time, Jason Kidd, to its NBA coverage this year. Kidd will contribute to both studio and game coverage. Jason was named to 10 NBA All-Star teams, was a five-time All-NBA First Team selection, an NBA Champion (2011), and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Former NBA champion Jeremy Lin is also new to ESPN and ABC’s NBA coverage this season. Lin kinda soft-launched his ESPN tenure during the summer, providing analysis during the 2026 NBA Finals and the 2026 NBA Summer League from Las Vegas. Lin, just like Kidd, will appear throughout studio and game coverage this season.
ESPN Radio:
ESPN Radio’s comprehensive NBA 2026-27 regular season and postseason coverage promises an exciting listening experience with a talented lineup of broadcasters. The play-by-play team includes seasoned announcers Marc Kestecher, Mike Couzens, Sean Kelley, and Jorge Sedano, each bringing their unique style and expertise to the broadcasts.
Complementing the play-by-play commentators are a group of distinguished analysts: P.J. Carlesimo, a former NBA coach known for his strategic insights; Cory Alexander, a seasoned player and analyst who offers keen perspectives; Doris Burke, a highly respected voice in sports commentary recognized for her in-depth knowledge of the game; and Kelenna Azubuike, a former player with firsthand experience on the court.
This dynamic roster combines veteran national NBA commentators, experienced coaches, and former players who will call top-tier matchups throughout the regular season. Their expertise will be especially crucial as they provide national coverage during the pivotal moments of the NBA Playoffs and culminate with the high-stakes excitement of the NBA Finals. Fans can expect an engaging and informative listening experience that captures the spirit and intensity of the games.
ESPN Digital:
ESPN provides comprehensive NBA coverage across its platforms, including ESPN.com, the ESPN App, and various news and information programs throughout the season. The network boasts a team of prominent contributors, including Shams Charania from Chicago, Brian Windhorst from Omaha, Tim MacMahon from Dallas, Dave McMenamin from Los Angeles and Philadelphia, Jamal Collier from Chicago, Michael C. Wright from San Antonio, Vincent Goodwill from New York, Kris Rhim from Philadelphia, Anthony Slater from Sacramento, Ramona Shelburne and Baxter Holmes from Los Angeles, Marc J. Spears from Oakland, Bobby Marks from Southwest Florida, Jeremy Woo from Chicago, Ben Golliver from Los Angeles, and Zach Kram from Chicago. Collectively, ESPN’s reporters, insiders, analysts, and writers will provide timely breaking news, in-depth reporting, engaging feature stories, and insightful analysis throughout the regular season, NBA Playoffs, and NBA Finals.
| 🛈 Sources: ESPN Press Room |
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