ESPN will feature Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Richard Jefferson as its new NBA Finals broadcasting team. This marks their first season together, but the trio faces uncertainty about their future with the network.
Breen, one of the best play-by-play announcers in NBA history, joins forces with Burke and Jefferson after previous analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were let go last summer. The decision was seen as a bad move at the time, and it remains unclear if ESPN made the right call.
Burke, an analyst known for her sharp insights, is now paired with Breen, who has struggled to find chemistry with his partners in recent seasons. Meanwhile, Jefferson’s contract is up for renewal after next season, raising questions about whether he’ll stay with the network or consider offers from Amazon Prime Video.
Despite this uncertainty, ESPN will evaluate its entire broadcasting lineup for the NBA Finals. This includes Tim Legler, Jay Bilas, and Cory Alexander, who have been the network’s other analysts this season. The network is also considering options to replace Burke, who has a guaranteed spot in their lineup.
Breen has called numerous NBA Finals games throughout his career, but he faces challenges in finding the right flow with his new partners. The trio needs to develop chemistry quickly if they want to deliver compelling broadcasts during the most critical moments of the postseason.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6400351/2025/06/04/nba-finals-espn-doris-burke-mike-breen