ESPN is making a big change to its on-air NBA coverage.
According to The Athletic, the ABC subsidiary is removing Doris Burke from its NBA Finals team and will likely move the Hall of Famer to its No. 2 broadcasting booth. ESPN confirmed that Burke will be replaced by Tim Legler, who began calling games a couple of seasons ago. Legler will join former NBA player Richard Jefferson and veteran play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.
The decision came about two years after Burke became the first female analyst to call an NBA Finals game. She and Doc Rivers were promoted to the “A” team in 2023, alongside Breen. Rivers left the booth in early 2024 to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks; he was replaced by JJ Redick, who left the Finals broadcasting team in June 2024 to take on a coaching job with the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN named Jefferson as Redick’s replacement just several weeks later.
Per The Athletic. Burke’s contract is set to expire after the upcoming season. The Hall of Famer is expected to join the network’s second-tier broadcasting team with play-by-play announcer Ryan Ruocco.
Legler began working for ESPN in 2000. He has since contributed to a number of programs, including First Take, NBA Coast to Coast, NBA Fastbreak, and NBA Shootaround.
