The current top ABC/ESPN broadcasting trio of Mike Breen, Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson might not work together beyond the NBA Finals, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reports.
That grouping hasn’t meshed like the vaunted trio of Breen, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy — the latter two were let go by ESPN during a series of cost-cutting moves in 2023. The network will reevaluate its current roster of broadcasters after the Finals, Marchand says, adding that ESPN intends on re-signing Jefferson, though the analyst has also drawn interest from Amazon Prime Video.
Burke’s spot is not guaranteed for next season, according to Marchand, but Breen is locked in as the top play-by-play man. Tim Legler has supporters among the network’s top executives and could become a option to join the No. 1 broadcasting group.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- TNT’s celebrated “Inside the NBA” show will move to ESPN next season but Charles Barkley doesn’t intend to finish out his 10-year contract, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports relays. Barkley has seven years left on the $210MM contract he signed with TNT and said on the Dan Patrick Show he only wants to work two more years. “Inside the NBA” will continue to have an extended post-game show and will also lead ESPN’s pregame and halftime programming.
- The free agent small forward pool doesn’t have an All-Star level talent, according to Spotrac contributor Keith Smith. The “starter tier” is headed by Khris Middleton and Kelly Oubre, who hold options on their contracts. Restricted free agent Justin Edwards and unrestricted FA Taurean Prince round out that group.
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks lists all the key offseason dates, beginning with the draft’s early entry entrant withdrawal deadline for non-college players on June 15. The other important date this month prior to the draft is the start of negotiations between teams and their own free agents, which occurs the day after the Finals conclude.
Doris and RJ are terrible
Richard Jefferson is terrible. Burke is good. She even called SGA a free throw merchant which was hilariously honest.
Small forward market is downright frightening this year; dont even look theres nothing to find
Should help the trade market for guys like Herb Jones or Okoro if they get put on the block. Looks like Okoro just squeezes under the MLE so he can be shed by Cle w/out taking salary back to slip apron 2 next year from a team with the full MLE
Philly will retain Edwards no doubt viewing the landscape
Herb Jones on the block?
Proper offer, I think so
He’s young with a few years left on his deal. Wouldn’t you want to make him part of your core if you’re the Pels?
Healthy Middleton is an excellent pickup (best suited for a playoff team/contender I’d say). How about Magic? He can bring much needed shooting and scoring.
Middleton isn’t actually a free agent. The only way he opts out is if he’s re-signing w/ WAS on a handshake agreement that gets him more $ on additional years but reduces his annual salary.
Lost respect fior Doris Burkes in the confrence finals you could tell she was cheering for 1 team. It was obviously bias in her announcing and complaining about fouls. Didn’t complain when the same foul wasn’t called on her team.
Breen , Burke and Van Gundy should never work another game ever.
I still wonder how SVG is involved in basketball in any capacity. As for Doris, she’s nauseating.
Just admit you messed up and bring back Jackson and Van Gundy
MJ had some corny sayings but they were at least laughable. He and JVG were a great duo.
Jackson was a clown.
Jackson stunk but firing JVG was stupid. Doris is too biased. RJ is just a whinier Stephen A, if he had actually played. ESPN should clean house again.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m in the minority of avid basketball fans who simultaneously recognizes and respects Mike Breen’s place among NBA broadcasting legends, while I still very loosely long for the days when guys like Marv Albert, Dick Stockton, and the curly-haired NBC play-by-play (Hammond?) sat behind the mic. Breen is indeed great at what he does – but has ever ‘pushed the envelope’ per se, or thought and spoke ‘outside the box’ or brought to question the status quo of things? I mean….to an extent, I understand what the premier network(s) for basketball broadcasts were thinking in the early part of the millenium- not wanting any more indiscretions/controversies among their main play-by-plays. Well….that’s what ABC/ESPN got – minimize offending anyone or sparking critical thinking among your viewers in an age where there have been plenty of controversies/eye sores surrounding the integrity of the sport.
Tom Hammond, if I’m not mistaken. Hammond, Bill Walton, Steve ‘Snapper’ Jones, Matt Goukas. Loved hearing those guys in the 90s.
Rick barry , bill russell
Ha !
Anyone know where Ian is??
Burke is the WORST!!! Always seems like she’s scripted and frankly just trying too hard to fit in. Get the feeling she thinks she’s clever when she obviously not.
Breen is methodically annoying, with his constant butt kissing. But I can’t root for ESPN to drop him, because then NYK fans wouldn’t get a break from him while he’s doing national games. The ESPN analysts, old and new, provide virtually no game analysis. The game action is just a prop to facilitate their commentary on the NBA and/or the selling of their own brand. So, as things stand, it really doesn’t matter who’s in those seats.
ESPN is awful because they employ Stephen A SSmith.