2026 NBA: Summer Series Game and Studio Commentators

A poster showing the NBA Summer Series broadcast partners (ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video) for the 2026 season. (Tamir Moore/Canva)

| ⏵ Wednesday, April 29, 2026

🟆 Highlights:

• Studio and game commentators announced for the historic 50th NBA Summer Series season!

• Ernie Johnson Jr., Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith lead ESPN’s NBA Summer Series studio programming with pregame, halftime, and postgame programming during marquee NBA events, including Saturday Primetime, Sunday Showcase, the 2026 NBA Playoffs presented by Google, & the 2026 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV. “Inside the NBA” serves as the NBA Finals studio show for the very first time ever!

• Longtime commentator Tamir Moore begins his 17th and final season behind the NBA Summer Series microphone 🎤!

• 2016 NBA Champion Richard Jefferson and former NBA sharpshooter Tim Legler, named co-lead analysts, join lead play-by-play commentator Curtis Stockley and reporter Michelle Kuc.

• Mike Tirico, Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford & Zora Stephenson named NBC Sports’ lead NBA Summer Series broadcast team.

• Ian Eagle teams up with former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy and reporter Cassidy Hubbarth to call Prime Video’s top NBA broadcasts during the streamer’s first season covering NBA Summer Series games.

• 22 (!!) broadcast teams will be used during the 2026 NBA Summer Series season, when you combine the ESPN, Prime Video, and NBC crews.

Earlier this week, the game commentary teams for the historic 50th NBA Summer Series season were announced. 22 broadcast teams will call the action across ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video during the 2026 season. ESPN and NBC will each employ seven broadcast teams, while Prime Video will have eight. This will allow each broadcast partner to establish a deep bench of talent, especially during periods when each partner carries a certain number of games within a set time period.

Each broadcast partner’s studio and game commentators for the 2026 season can be found below:

⮞ NBA on ESPN/ABC — “A” package:

ABC/ESPN Lead Broadcast Team — Curtis Stockley, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Michelle Kuc:

Let’s start with ABC/ESPN, the broadcast partner that will have the NBA Summer Series’ top broadcast package entering this new broadcast deal! The “A” package features a weekly primetime game, first-round and second-round playoff games, a rotating Conference Final series, and, of course, the NBA Finals.

This year, Curtis Stockley, who now enters his eighth season (2019-26) as lead play-by-play commentator, is joined by 2016 NBA Champion Richard Jefferson, fellow analyst Tim Legler, and reporter Michelle Kuc to create the lead NBA Summer Series broadcasting team. 

Jefferson starts his ninth season as a member of the NBA Summer Series broadcast team, after initially serving as a studio analyst from 1998-02, then moving into a game analyst from 2021-22 and again in 2025. As for Legler, he starts his 15th season as an NBA Summer Series analyst, having worked in the studio from 2003-2013 and focusing almost exclusively on game analysis in more recent years (2021-22, 2025-present). Michelle Kuc has been the top sideline reporter since 2019 and has worked on select NBA Summer Series games from her debut in 1999 through 2018.

Stockley, Jefferson, Legler, and Kuc will team up to call marquee regular-season games (including NBA Saturday Primetime), first and second-round playoff games, a Conference Final series, and the NBA Finals for ABC.

Doris Burke Begins 21st Season Calling NBA Summer Series Games:

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Doris Burke starts her 21st season calling NBA Summer Series games for ESPN and ABC. Burke will continue to call top-tier regular-season and playoff games for the ESPN family of networks, including NBA Sunday Showcase. Burke is expected to work the majority of her games with fellow Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Mike Breen and veteran reporter Lisa Salters. Doris first joined the NBA Summer Series broadcasting family back in 1997 and called games through the 2014 season for PRISM, Comcast SportsNet, ABC, and ESPN. Then, in 2024, Burke rejoined ESPN and was added back to the commentator roster.

Last season, Burke called the NBA Finals for the first time as a Summer Series color analyst, becoming the first female analyst to receive a prestigious assignment like this one.

Tamir Moore Bids Farewell to the NBA Summer Series:

The 2026 season is a bittersweet one for longtime NBA Summer Series broadcaster Tamir Moore. As previously announced, Moore will step aside from his Summer Series commentator role after a 17-year run, following the completion of the 2026 season. This year, Moore will call games regularly alongside Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White and reporter James Alexander for ESPN and ABC.

ESPN/ABC’s Deep Commentator Roster:

As ESPN returns for its 24th NBA Summer Series season, the network’s NBA Summer Series roster will once again feature a dynamic mix of experienced, up-and-coming, and brand-new voices to provide the soundtrack for basketball telecasts throughout the summer months. In addition to Curtis Stockley and Mike Breen, play-by-play commentators Tamir Moore, Dave Pasch, and Kelvin Hutchinson join the regular play-by-play rotation. Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jones, and David Moskowitz will handle play-by-play duties for select games this season.

Besides Stephanie White, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and Doris Burke, other ESPN NBA Summer Series game analysts in 2026 include former head coach PJ Carlesimo and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Jay Bilas. Additional analysts set to call select games include King McClure, Jermaine Samuels Jr., Andraya Carter & Diana Taurasi.

As per usual, Michelle Kuc holds the responsibility of leading ESPN’s NBA Summer Series sideline reporter rotation, which will also feature James Alexander, Lisa Salters, New York Knicks beat writer Kristian Winfield, and longtime reporter Susan Reutter, starting her 33rd season on the sidelines. Other sideline reporters for the season include Jorge Sedano, Alyssa Lang, Vanessa Richardson, Katie George & Malika Andrews.

Studio Teams:

ESPN’s NBA Summer Series coverage for 2026 will feature the legendary “Inside the NBA” pregame, halftime, and postgame show surrounding major NBA events, including Opening Night, NBA Saturday Primetime — the marquee game of the week, NBA Sunday Showcase, Summer Showcase, NBA Playoffs, and NBA Finals. Live from Atlanta, “Inside the NBA” features the iconic cast of host Ernie Johnson Jr., two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith, and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. “Inside the NBA” will hit the road for Opening Night (Rockets vs. Thunder), the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, & 2026 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.

Additionally, on nights when “Inside the NBA” & “NBA Tip-Off” (which will be produced by Turner Sports) don’t air, ESPN will still broadcast and distribute their in-house studio programming, led by “NBA Countdown” and “NBA: After the Buzzer”. Miles Johnson returns for his fourth season as the host, joined by a revamped lineup of studio personalities. 2025 NBA Champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander begins his first full season behind the desk. Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo enters her fourth season as a studio analyst (2015-16, 2025-present). Studio Analyst Autumn Johnson and Insider Devon Henderson make their NBA Summer Series broadcasting debuts for the 2026 season.

Malika Andrews (who will also report during select games), three-time NBA Champion Danny Green, former No. 1 overall pick Chiney Ogwumike, ESPN Senior NBA Writer Brian Windhorst, and insider Shams Charania will host select “NBA Countdown” and “NBA: After the Buzzer” shows throughout the season.

⮞ NBA on NBC/Peacock/NBCSN — “B” package:

Mike Tirico joins Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford, and reporter Zora Stephenson to lead NBC’s lead commentary team:

We continue our preview of the 2026 NBA Summer Series game and studio commentators with the NBA on NBC, as they debut as a full-time partner for the NBA Summer Series. Previously, NBC Sports carried select NBA Summer Series games from 1998-2002 through a sublicensing deal with Comcast SportsNet (CSN), the league’s primary television/cable partner at the time.

Mike Tirico, now in his second season calling games, is set to be joined by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and three-time Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford to lead NBC’s group of announcers for the upcoming 2026 season. Tirico and Miller previously worked as a two-man booth during the 2025 season.

Tirico, Crawford, Miller, and reporter Zora Stephenson will be assigned the marquee events on NBC’s 2026 calendar, including Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, Sunday Night Basketball, first- and second-round playoff games, and the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

Notable NBA legends and important alumni bolster NBC’s NBA announcer lineup:

This year, NBC Sports will feature NBA legends and notable former NBA athletes in its coverage. Hall of Famer Grant Hill joins play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle and reporter Ashley ShahAhmadi. Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher calls games regularly with play-by-play announcer Terry Gannon and reporter Grant Liffmann. NBA veterans Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers team up with play-by-play commentator Michael Grady and reporter Jordan Cornette.

NBA on NBC’s Game Commentators:

In addition to Tirico, Eagle, Grady, and Gannon, NBC Sports will have John Michael, Kevin Ray, Bob Costas, Kate Scott, and Jason Benetti call select games throughout the season.

NBC Sports’ deep game analyst roster includes 2024 NBA Champion Jayson Tatum, who is returning after a season away from broadcasting to tend to his Achilles injury sustained in May 2025; Brad Daugherty; and 2008 NBA Champion Brian Scalabrine, to complement Miller, Crawford, Hill, Fisher, Hummel & Rivers.

On the sidelines this year for NBC, alongside the previously named Stephenson, ShahAhmadi, Cornette, and Liffmann, will be rising broadcasting stars John Fanta, Chris Mannix, and Taylor McGregor.

NBA on NBC’s Studio Commentators:

“NBA Showtime” will serve as NBC Sports’ pregame, halftime, and postgame show for most NBC/Peacock games this season. Before Sunday Night Basketball games, NBC/Peacock will air “Basketball Night in America”, a one-hour studio show from the site of that week’s Sunday Night Basketball game.

Maria Taylor will host NBA coverage on Sunday and Tuesday nights throughout the season, with Ahmed Fareed assigned to the Monday studio shows. Taylor and Fareed will be joined by several top NBC Sports NBA analysts, including Hall of Famers Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, & Carmelo Anthony; four-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala; Villanova basketball legend Kris Jenkins; and veteran sports broadcasters Jalen Rose & Chris Webber. Furthermore, active NBA players will regularly contribute to NBC Sports’ studio programming, including Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Suns guard Devin Booker, and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown.

⮞ NBA on Prime — “C” package:

Ian Eagle, Stan Van Gundy & Cassidy Hubbarth lead NBA on Prime’s broadcast team for inaugural season:

We will end the 2026 NBA Summer Series Game and Commentator reveal with Prime Video, beginning their association with the NBA Summer Series.

Prime will have eight crews specifically assigned to NBA games throughout the summer.

Prime Video’s NBA commentator lineup will be led by veteran play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle, analyst Stan Van Gundy, and reporter Cassidy Hubbarth. Each commentator joins the NBA Summer Series broadcasting family for the first time.

This team will be tasked with commentary duties for several key NBA on Prime events, including top regular-season games, the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup, the 2026 SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, and first-round and second-round playoff games. 

Hall of Fame Royalty on Prime Video’s NBA Analyst Roster — Candace Parker, Dwyane Wade & Tamika Catchings

Prime Video is excited to announce that several Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers will be providing game analysis throughout the 2026 season.

To start, 13-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade is scheduled to call a regular slate of games for the first time in his young broadcasting career. Last season, Wade was in the studio alongside Miles Johnson, Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & fellow Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo. However, Wade has traded studio work for game analyst work. Wade will call the majority of his games alongside veteran play-by-play commentator Kevin Harlan (in his 31st season of covering NBA Summer Series games), soon-to-be Hall of Famer Candace Parker (analyst), and reporter Allie Clifton.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and 2012 WNBA Champion Tamika Catchings is set to bring her unique perspective to the broadcast booth as a regular game analyst for the NBA on Prime, working with play-by-play commentator Jeff Levering, fellow analyst and 13-year NBA veteran CJ McCollum, and former Georgia football player Miles Thornton.

Prime Video’s Game Commentators:

In addition to Eagle and Harlan at play-by-play, play-by-play commentators Michael Grady, Eric Collins, Beth Mowins, Jeff Levering, Chancellor Johnson, and Mike Monaco will also call games for the NBA on Prime during the 2026 season.

In addition to Wade, Parker, McCollum, Catchings, and Van Gundy, the 2026 NBA on Prime game analysts include NBA veteran Brent Barry, Dell Curry, Jim Jackson, Devin Harris, and Sarah Kustok.

Joining Hubbarth, Clifton, and Thornton, the reporting roster for the NBA on Prime in 2026 includes Kristina Pink, JayDee Dyer, Daren Robles, and Aislinn Belinch.

Prime Video’s Studio Commentators:

Coverage will commence 30 minutes before each game with the “NBA on Prime” pregame show, broadcast live from Amazon Studios in Culver City. After every game night, viewers can enjoy “NBA Nightcap,” a one-hour postgame show featuring player interviews and in-depth analysis. Between doubleheaders, Prime will seamlessly connect the games with “The Crossover,” maintaining live coverage from the NBA on Prime studio. Taylor Rooks will host the studio coverage, joined by analysts and NBA legends Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, and Udonis Haslem. Throughout the 2025-26 season, Dwyane Wade and Candace Parker will also make appearances in the studio, alternating with their assignments in the broadcast booth.

Plus, WNBA legend Swin Cash, five-time NBA All-Star John Wall, longtime NBA writer Zach Lowe, and 17-year NBA veteran Rudy Gay will make select in-studio appearances throughout the season.

Prime will have players contributing regularly throughout the season, including Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and 76ers guard Kyle Lowry. Haliburton and Lowry take on “player correspondent” roles.

Chris Haynes will serve as Prime’s official insider, appearing on pregame and postgame shows.

For more information about the 2026 NBA Summer Series broadcast schedule for each of the broadcast partners, click the following links: ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock & Prime Video.

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