NBA Media: Amazon Adding Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin For Studio Roles

Amazon Prime Video is making major moves ahead of its inaugural NBA coverage, which will begin in the 2025-26 season. Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, NBA, Amazon

According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, the streamer has tapped former NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin to join host Taylor Rooks in the studio.

This marks Amazon’s entrance into NBA broadcasting as part of its massive 11-year, $20 billion agreement with the league.

The addition of Nowitzki and Griffin mirrors Amazon’s approach to its NFL “Thursday Night Football” coverage, which leaned heavily on fresh faces and former players, such as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Richard Sherman, to create a younger, more dynamic broadcast.

Nowitzki’s presence could also signal Amazon’s interest in targeting a broader international audience, especially European fans, with a potential focus on daytime broadcasts in the U.S. that align with primetime in Europe.

The NBA’s media landscape is shifting as TNT Sports exits the space, leaving NBC/Peacock and Amazon to join ABC/ESPN as the new quartet of major platforms to showcase the league’s action over the next decade-plus.

ESPN has already started making waves by importing TNT’s iconic Inside The NBA crew, though negotiations with Shaquille O’Neal are still ongoing. Charles Barkley has stirred speculation by suggesting on The Dan Patrick Show that he’s in talks with NBC and Amazon about leaving Inside The NBA, despite his hefty contract with TNT.

Meanwhile, ESPN continues to evaluate its No. 1 game crew for the NBA season, with Richard Jefferson emerging as the front-runner for a third seat alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke. Amazon has also shown interest in Jefferson for its own NBA coverage.

As for NBC, Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle will lead their play-by-play efforts, with Jamal Crawford added as a game analyst, while Reggie Miller has been in talks with the network as well.

Amazon, having already appointed Ian Eagle as its lead play-by-play announcer, is still in the process of assembling its full team, with talks ongoing with Dwyane Wade for studio and game roles, Marchand reported, citing sources briefed on the discussions.