The NBA Finals is the pinnacle of basketball and a place where every NBA strives to one day reach. Some win, some lose, but everyone wants to make it to that level. This rings true for people working in and around the NBA, especially in media.
Calling the NBA Finals has to be the biggest honor a commentator can ever get, and Doris Burke is likely next in line to join the booth for the 2024 NBA Finals. Jeff Van Gundy’s recent departure from ESPN has made people hopeful that Burke is next in line and finally gets this opportunity.
After laying off Jeff Van Gundy, ESPN may name Doris Burke to succeed him — making her the first female analyst to call the NBA Finals.
Predictions from @MMcCarthyREV » https://t.co/WKnUmutt6o pic.twitter.com/qpQTNoqqMH
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 3, 2023
Burke has been a part of ESPN since 1991 and is one of their most prized on-screen commentators. She also provides analysis on ESPN’s various NBA-related shows, along with being a commentator for many ESPN or ABC games. Joining the Finals booth may be the final major accomplishment left in her incredible career as a journalist.
Burke served as a commentator for the radio broadcasts of the 2023 NBA Finals, so she has experience with calling the game at that level.
NBA Media Rights Up For Sale Soon
We are entering the final few seasons before the NBA is fundamentally altered with a new media rights deal. The previously signed contract from 2016 is going to expire in 2025, with new negotiations expected to create another massive spike in the salary cap.
The current duo of ESPN and TNT will have more competing voices in the room, with Amazon expected to make a major push. Apple TV is also rumored to be in the mix after their aggressive moves to enter sports broadcasting. The NBA could arguably get one of the most lucrative media rights deals in history soon, so it’ll be fascinating to see how it impacts the league as a whole.
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