ESPN is moving Doris Burke off its NBA Finals broadcast team for next season, replacing her with Tim Legler. The change, reported publicly, would see Legler join the network’s No. 1 broadcast team alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson, with Burke stepping into a different role within ESPN if she appears on Finals coverage at all.
Burke, 60, has been a Finals fixture for the past two seasons. Her elevation in 2023 made history as she became the first woman to serve as a game analyst during a championship series in one of North America’s four major sports. Last season, she teamed with Breen and Jefferson on the broadcasts, a trio that has anchored ESPN’s Finals coverage in recent years. Breen and Jefferson are expected to remain on the No. 1 team, now joined by Legler, who is a longtime ESPN analyst and a former 10-year NBA veteran.
The shift comes after reports in June that Burke’s spot on ESPN’s top NBA team was in jeopardy. While public support from peers and others — including Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and Jefferson, who wore a shirt supporting Burke during the Women’s College World Series — highlighted the value she brought, ESPN proceeded with the plan. The decision, according to media reporting, originated with ESPN executive vice president Mike McQuade, with neither board chair Jimmy Pitaro nor president Burke Magnus vetoing it.
Legler, who joined ESPN in 2000, has been a familiar presence on the network for years and began regularly calling games in 2023. His addition to the Finals team aligns with ESPN’s ongoing efforts to reshape its top broadcast lineup in recent seasons.
Even as Burke steps away from the top Finals role, she is not leaving ESPN. Her contract runs through the 2025-26 season, and the network has discussed a contract extension with her. It’s possible Burke could still contribute as a game analyst during the upcoming season, but she would be reassigned to a different broadcast team.
ESPN’s high-profile NBA crew has undergone several changes in recent years. The network parted ways with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in 2023, prompting a broader reshuffling of on-air partners for Mike Breen. Burke and Doc Rivers were promoted to the team in 2023, though Rivers later left to return to coaching, and JJ Redick joined briefly before leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching staff.
What this means going forward is a shift in on-air dynamics for ESPN’s Finals coverage. Burke’s historic impact remains a milestone in sports broadcasting, and her continued presence at ESPN ensures she remains part of the network’s broader basketball coverage, even if her role on the Finals broadcast is changing. Legler’s experience will bring a different lens to the proceedings, and Breen and Jefferson will lead the No. 1 team into next season with a refreshed supporting cast.
Takeaways for readers
– A major reshuffle for ESPN’s NBA Finals broadcast, with Tim Legler stepping into the top team alongside Breen and Jefferson.
– Doris Burke remains with ESPN and could contribute in other assignments while not anchoring the Finals this season.
– The move is part of a broader pattern of on-air team changes at ESPN over the past few years, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance veteran presence with new voices.
In a broader sense, this development underscores ESPN’s ongoing evolution of its basketball broadcast identity. Burke’s historic role helped pave the way for more inclusive coverage, and while this particular adjustment moves her off the Finals flagship, her continued involvement with ESPN keeps her influential footprint in the sport’s broadcast landscape. If viewed through a forward-looking lens, Legler’s addition could introduce fresh analysis and chemistry, while Burke’s continued presence offers continuity and opportunities across other ESPN platforms.