Newly appointed Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick has ended his brief tenure as ABC/ESPN’s color commentator for the NBA Finals. By accepting the coaching role with the Lakers on June 24, Redick became the first TV color commentator since Doc Rivers in 2004 to serve in this role for only one season.
ESPN is now on the lookout for a fresh commentator to join the broadcasting team alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and color commentator Doris Burke for the NBA 2024–25 season broadcasts. Andrew Marchand from The Athletic reports that the network has narrowed the list down to four potential candidates.
The candidates identified for the role are Jay Bilas, Grant Hill, Richard Jefferson, and Tim Legler, according to Marchand. There is also a possibility that ESPN might consider continuing with just the duo of Breen and Burke in the commentary booth.
Jay Bilas, aged 60, has been a prominent figure in ESPN’s college basketball broadcasts. Despite his extensive experience, Marchand notes that Bilas, who is a former center from Duke and never played in the NBA, is seen as an unlikely choice.
Grant Hill, 51, is a Hall of Fame inductee who played as a forward and guard across four NBA teams. He has been involved with CBS and TNT’s coverage of the Final Four since 2014 and also provides commentary for TNT’s NBA playoff and regular season games.
Richard Jefferson, 44, is an ex-forward who played for eight NBA teams and is currently a commentator for ESPN.
Tim Legler, 57, a former guard who played for six NBA teams, is well-liked by ESPN audiences for his deep understanding of the game.
The upcoming NBA season on ESPN will kick off with a doubleheader on October 23. The schedule includes a game where the Milwaukee Bucks will play against the Philadelphia 76ers and another where the Phoenix Suns will face the Los Angeles Clippers.
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