ESPN’s long-term basketball broadcast plans are coming into focus.
The network will announce Thursday that it has reached multi-year extensions with a quartet of basketball voices: Tim Legler, Kendrick Perkins, Monica McNutt and Chiney Ogwumike, according to sources briefed on the move.
As far as specific assignments, per the sources, Legler will expand his role as part of his extension by serving as an ESPN NBA television game analyst. He will also regularly appear on “SportsCenter” and “Get Up.”
Perkins will now appear on ABC editions of “NBA Countdown” throughout the season as well as ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” “NBA Today,” “Get Up,” “First Take,” “SportsCenter” and “Hoop Streams.”
McNutt will continue as an analyst on both NBA and WNBA live events and studio coverage and make regular appearances on “Get Up,” “First Take,” “SportsCenter” and “Hoop Streams.” She is also one of ESPN’s NBA sideline reporters.
Ogwumike will carry on as a studio analyst for NBA, WNBA and women’s college basketball games and studio coverage. Her role includes regular appearances on shows such as “ESPN NBA Countdown,” “NBA Today,” “WNBA Countdown,” “Get Up,” “First Take” and “SportsCenter.” She’ll also add hosting responsibilities on “NBA Today” during select days.
Here’s what the rest of ESPN’s NBA coverage looks like
The extensions follow an announcement earlier this week from ESPN in which the company announced its NBA play-by-play, analysts, reporters and studio commentators for the start of the 2024-25 season. The play-by-play group includes lead voice Mike Breen, who has called a record 19 NBA Finals. The other NBA play-by-play broadcasters are Ryan Ruocco, Dave Pasch, Mark Jones and Michael Grady, who also calls Timberwolves games in Minnesota.
The analysts include Doris Burke, Hubie Brown, Richard Jefferson, Legler, Bob Myers and Stephanie White. Jay Bilas and Cory Alexander will also work as game analysts during the season. The sideline reporter group features Lisa Salters and Cassidy Hubbarth, Angel Gray, Katie George, McNutt and Jorge Sedano.
The lead studio team for “NBA Countdown” on ABC consists of host Malika Andrews and analysts Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers and Perkins. Michael Wilbon and Shams Charania will also make regular contributions to the show.
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(Photo: Ron Chenoy / USA Today)
