Former coach and point guard Doc Rivers is expected to join Doris Burke and play-by-play man Mike Breen in a reshaped No. 1 broadcast team for ESPN broadcasts of NBA games, per Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.
Rivers and Burke will replace Mark Jackson, who has been let go by the network, reports hall-of-fame writer Peter Vecsey. Former in-game analyst Jeff Van Gundy was laid off earlier this summer.
Per Marchand, the deals for Rivers and Burke aren’t yet finalized, “but are quickly moving in that direction.”
Jackson and Van Gundy were staples of the top games on ESPN for nearly 20 years, calling Finals games on ABC during that stretch. The NBA has not played a significant role in ESPN’s decisions on its top broadcasts teams, Marchand suggested.
This just in: Mark Jackson told me he was let go by ESPN. He had two years left on his contract. Jeff Van Gundy was let go weeks ago. Doc Rivers and Doris Burke are now Mike Breen’s partners…
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) July 31, 2023
“Unlike Van Gundy, Burke and Rivers are popular at the league offices,” he wrote. “The league has always been a fan of Rivers in the broadcast booth.”
Rivers, 61, most recently coached the 76ers for three years, losing in the second round of the playoffs each time. He was fired at the end of last season.
The 76ers finished 154-82 combined under Rivers, who has also served as head coach of the Clippers, Celtics and Magic. Overall he has compiled a 1,097-763 record in 24 seasons, winning a championship in 2008 with Boston.
NEWS: ESPN is closing in on promoting Doris Burke to the NBA Finals, demoting Mark Jackson and hiring Doc Rivers in the wake of the Jeff Van Gundy firing, The Post has learned.https://t.co/8AhPLrR6U4
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) July 31, 2023
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I had been sacrificing watching basketball games just to not hear Doris Burke’s sad and sorry commentary. This is gonna be rough.
There are much better choices currently in the business. People who love and enjoy the game. Dont think theyre just there to judge people. Humble enough to know whats real and whats bul on a basketball court. And doesnt talk about NBA players like theyre highlty skilled kindergarteners.