ESPN about to demote ex-NBA and Knicks star
ESPN has plans to change its NBA Finals coverage, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports.
According to Marchand, the network plans to promote Doris Burke to the NBA Finals and hire Doc Rivers to join her. Burke will be the first woman TV analyst on the NBA Finals.
Marchand reports that will leave Mark Jackson to the “B” team or off the network: “Sources said Jackson could stay on and join play-by-player Mark Jones on the network’s second team. If he balks at that option, he could be headed out of ESPN.”
Jackson played for the Knicks from 1987 to 1992 and retired from the NBA in 2004. He has been with ESPN since 2014.
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ESPN is turning to Burke, who grew up in Manasquan and was point guard for Manasquan High School, after laying off Jeff Van Gundy last month.
Van Gundy, 61, had been with ESPN for 16 years, calling the NBA Finals with play-by-player Mike Breen and co-game analyst, Jackson.
In late June, ESPN let go around 20 on-air personalities, and Van Gundy was arguably the network’s most shocking firing. According to Marchand, “top ESPN executives were wary of his desire to coach again.”
The first wave of cuts took place in late April. In March, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that 7,000 jobs would be eliminated across the board. The company is looking to cut $5.5 billion in costs worldwide.
