It’s been a wild summer over at ESPN. This summer, the network’s parent company (Disney) laid off 7 thousand workers in a move that is estimated to save over $5 billion. The layoffs, of course, included some prominent names in the NBA media industry, including Jalen Rose, Keyshawn Johnson, and Max Kellerman.
Also among the layoffs were two prominent ESPN broadcasters, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, who were fan-favorites in the industry for their courtside coverage. With them gone, only Mike Breen is expected to return, but it seems that ESPN has already hand-picked his new on-air partners.
“Nothing is imminent now, but hearing there’s a good chance that Doc Rivers and Doris Burke join Mike Breen on ESPN’s top NBA broadcast team next season,” wrote Boston Globe insider Chad Finn.
Nothing is imminent now, but hearing there's a good chance that Doc Rivers and Doris Burke join Mike Breen on ESPN's top NBA broadcast team next season.
— Chad Finn (@GlobeChadFinn) July 17, 2023
Doris is a longtime member of the ESPN crew, and she has earned favor among the community for her articulate speaking, respectable takes, and brilliant basketball analysis. Up to now, she’s mostly spent her time behind the scenes, but it makes sense that the network would tap her to become a more featured part of their NBA team.
Doc Rivers is perhaps the most interesting name in this report. Widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the modern NBA, Doc was in a prestigious position just a few months ago, but he was promptly fired from his role as coach after the 76ers failed to make it past the second round (again).
One would think that Rivers would return to coaching again, but it appears he’s making the transition to the NBA media instead.
What Should We Expect From Doc Rivers?
While it’s tough to imagine Rivers as a game broadcaster, many have already followed a similar path. Some, like Jeff Van Gundy, took up the microphone after his coaching career. Others, like Steve Kerr, became a coach after being a broadcaster.
For Doc, he’s got an opportunity here to start something new, and it’ll be interesting to see him in the role if he does indeed land this job. Either way, it’s a new era for ESPN basketball and it sounds like the fans have a lot to be excited about.
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