ESPN is looking to revamp its top NBA broadcast team as part of the company’s overhaul.
The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) -) sports network let go of longtime analyst Jeff Van Gundy as a part of layoffs of on-air talent in June, and are in the process of finding his successor to team with legendary play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and analyst Marc Jackson.
The reported candidates include several in-house candidates -- some who are fairly fresh at ESPN -- and one interesting external option.
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One of the in-house candidates is J.J. Redick, who has only been with ESPN since 2021. The 15-year NBA veteran has seen his star rise quickly within the company for his well-researched and eloquent arguments against other ESPN stars like Stephen A. Smith and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on “First Take.”
He was also featured as a color commentator for playoff games during the 2023 playoffs, and was most recently an analyst during the 2023 NBA Draft.
Another former NBA veteran that is a top candidate is Richard Jefferson, who has called games over the past few seasons, including some alongside Redick. Jefferson has been a staple on “NBA Today,” the network’s daily NBA show, and is known for his sarcastic tone, which would be similar to Van Gundy’s.
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Doris Burke, who has been with ESPN since the ‘90s, is also reportedly one of the lead candidates to replace Van Gundy, and would make history as the first woman to call the NBA Finals on a television broadcast.
Burke is a Hall of Fame broadcaster who broke barriers in 2020 by becoming the first woman to call the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio.
Another candidate that’s making rounds according to the Boston Globe’s Chad Finn is Doc Rivers, who was just let go as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers after the 2022-23 season. Rivers has experience working as analyst dating back to calling the NBA Finals in 2004, but has since been coaching including winning an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
