New Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick's stint as ABC/ESPN's color commentator for the NBA Finals was a brief one. When Redick took the Lakers job on June 24, he all but assured he would be the event's first one-and-done TV color commentator since Doc Rivers in 2004.
Thus, ESPN is in search of a new voice to team with play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and color commentator Doris Burke on NBA broadcasts for the 2024–25 season. According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, the network has zeroed in on four names.
Jay Bilas, Grant Hill, Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler are the top four candidates for the job, per Marchand—with the caveat that ESPN could opt for a booth of just Breen and Burke.
Bilas, 60, is a longtime face of ESPN's college basketball coverage. As Marchand pointed out, the former Duke center never played in the NBA and is characterized as "a long shot."
Hill, 51, is a Hall of Fame former forward and guard for four teams. He currently works on CBS and TNT's Final Four production, a position he has held in some form or fashion since 2014; he also calls NBA playoff and regular season games for TNT.
Jefferson, 44, is a former forward for eight teams who works for ESPN now.
Legler, 57, is a former guard for six teams and a longtime ESPN fan favorite for his copious basketball knowledge.
The network's first NBA broadcast of the season is a doubleheader on Oct. 23; the Milwaukee Bucks will visit the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns will visit the Los Angeles Clippers.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as ESPN Has Four Candidates on Shortlist to Join Mike Breen, Doris Burke on NBA Broadcast Team.
