Richard Jefferson will join Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ABC/ESPN’s top broadcast team, which will call the NBA Finals, sources briefed on the move said.
ESPN’s NBA booth has been in flux since the network let go of its longtime analysts, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson, during layoffs in the summer of 2023. The network began the following season with Doc Rivers joining Breen and Burke, but Rivers quickly ditched that role to become the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
ESPN turned to J.J. Redick over Jefferson to replace Rivers. Redick called the finals last June and then took the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching job. The network had some interest in Grant Hill joining Breen and Burke, but a deal never came to fruition.
Jefferson, 44, has worked with Breen and Burke all year, including on the In-Season Tournament. ESPN has also used Jay Bilas and Tim Legler as the third person in the booth along with Breen and Burke.
Jefferson’s elevation doesn’t necessarily mean he has the job long term. With his contract up after this season, Jefferson has interest from Amazon Prime Video to join its No. 1 team.
Amazon has already hired Ian Eagle as its lead play-by-play caller; Jefferson and Eagle have worked together on YES Network’s Brooklyn Nets broadcast for years. Amazon has also shown interest in Dwyane Wade and Stan Van Gundy, where Wade would likely be in a hybrid role working in the studio and at some games.
(Photo: Peter Casey / Imagn Images)
