ESPN culls its broadcasting team; Doris and Doc to join Breen on top team

[timpiker]

I will miss Van Gundy and Jackson.  I don't care for Burke as much as I once did.  And, while I've always liked Perk, he's getting on my nerves.

[gift]

I'm guessing this was a financial move for ESPN? I have to admit it crossed my mind how Doris was fawning over Philly against the Celtics and now she and Doc are teaming up. Wonder if Doc was doing his usual exit prep prior to the end of the season.

Van Gundy was great.

[ozgod]

Doris Burke has been demoted, replaced by Tim Legler.

Doris Burke demoted from ESPN/ABC?s top NBA broadcast team
Burke agreed to a multiyear extension while accepting the change in roles.

ESPN/ABC again has shaken up its lineup of NBA broadcasters, demoting Doris Burke from its No. 1 team and elevating Tim Legler.

Burke, a former Providence College basketball star and 1987 graduate, had been a color analyst on ESPN/ABC?s top team since the 2023-24 season. She began working for ESPN in 1991.

During the 2024 NBA Finals, she became the first woman to call a championship television broadcast in a major American men?s professional sports league.

Burke, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 as the Curt Gowdy Media Award winner, now will be paired with play-by-play voice Dave Pasch on ESPN?s No. 2 team. The sideline reporter is to be determined, but Katie George is a possibility.

Burke, whose contract was set to expire after the upcoming NBA season, agreed to a multiyear extension while accepting the change in roles.

Legler, a former NBA player and 3-point contest champion, has been with ESPN since 2000 in an assortment of basketball-related roles.

He will join play-by-play voice Mike Breen and analyst Richard Jefferson ? who agreed to a contract extension over the summer ? on the No. 1 team. Lisa Salters will remain the sideline reporter.

ESPN?s top NBA broadcast team has been in frequent flux in recent years, since longtime analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were fired during the summer of 2023.

Burke was elevated to the top team after their dismissal, and former Celtics coach Doc Rivers was hired as the other analyst. But Rivers left in the midst of the 2023-24 season to take the Bucks? coaching job.

JJ Redick was promoted in-season to replace Rivers, but he stuck around just through the Celtics? NBA Finals victory over the Mavericks, departing ESPN to become coach of the Lakers.

https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2025/08/28/doris-burke-demoted-from-espn-abcs-top-nba-broadcast-team/?p1=hp_featurestack

Doris was one of the unique broadcasters in that every fanbase felt she was biased against their team and a homer for the other team. This even happened when fans of each team that was playing each other thought she was biased against them

[slamtheking]

Doris Burke has been demoted, replaced by Tim Legler.

Doris Burke demoted from ESPN/ABC?s top NBA broadcast team
Burke agreed to a multiyear extension while accepting the change in roles.

ESPN/ABC again has shaken up its lineup of NBA broadcasters, demoting Doris Burke from its No. 1 team and elevating Tim Legler.

Burke, a former Providence College basketball star and 1987 graduate, had been a color analyst on ESPN/ABC?s top team since the 2023-24 season. She began working for ESPN in 1991.

During the 2024 NBA Finals, she became the first woman to call a championship television broadcast in a major American men?s professional sports league.

Burke, who entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 as the Curt Gowdy Media Award winner, now will be paired with play-by-play voice Dave Pasch on ESPN?s No. 2 team. The sideline reporter is to be determined, but Katie George is a possibility.

Burke, whose contract was set to expire after the upcoming NBA season, agreed to a multiyear extension while accepting the change in roles.

Legler, a former NBA player and 3-point contest champion, has been with ESPN since 2000 in an assortment of basketball-related roles.

He will join play-by-play voice Mike Breen and analyst Richard Jefferson ? who agreed to a contract extension over the summer ? on the No. 1 team. Lisa Salters will remain the sideline reporter.

ESPN?s top NBA broadcast team has been in frequent flux in recent years, since longtime analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were fired during the summer of 2023.

Burke was elevated to the top team after their dismissal, and former Celtics coach Doc Rivers was hired as the other analyst. But Rivers left in the midst of the 2023-24 season to take the Bucks? coaching job.

JJ Redick was promoted in-season to replace Rivers, but he stuck around just through the Celtics? NBA Finals victory over the Mavericks, departing ESPN to become coach of the Lakers.

https://www.boston.com/sports/media/2025/08/28/doris-burke-demoted-from-espn-abcs-top-nba-broadcast-team/?p1=hp_featurestack

Doris was one of the unique broadcasters in that every fanbase felt she was biased against their team and a homer for the other team. This even happened when fans of each team that was playing each other thought she was biased against them

won't miss Doris but have no idea if Legler's an improvement

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I've never liked Burke; she's like nails on a chalkboard to me. Never had a problem with Legler's studio work, so hopefully he's good during games.

[ozgod]

I've never liked Burke; she's like nails on a chalkboard to me. Never had a problem with Legler's studio work, so hopefully he's good during games.

Legler is a good x's and o's guy, it works well in the studio when he has 2 or 3 minutes to explain something. I've listened to him in commentary a few times and though he has to be more succinct in color commentary he is still pretty articulate when it comes to the technical side of things. He's just not very charismatic but he's definitely well informed.

[Donoghus]

ESPN's NBA Coverage has been a hot mess since they got the contract back in 2002.  Such a revolving door of talent both on their studio shows and on air.

Honestly, it's probably the right time to completely reset the A team.  Not only dump Burke but get rid of Breen & Jefferson as well.  Refresh the whole [dang] thing. 

[Celtics4ever]

Doris Burke is the reason got invented the mute button.  JK