ESPN has demoted Hall of Fame NBA analyst Doris Burke from its NBA Finals team and promoted longtime network commentator Tim Legler.
Legler, who’s been at ESPN since 2000, will join longtime lead play-by-player Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson and sideline reporter Lisa Salters on the No. 1 team, ESPN confirmed in a press release Thursday.
Burke, who signed a new multi-year extension with ESPN, will be on the network’s No. 2 NBA broadcast team with play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch.
The Athletic was first to report the news.
Burke spent the last two years on the network’s Finals broadcasts — becoming the first woman in history to call the NBA Finals on television.
Jefferson agreed to a new contract with ESPN after working his first Finals in June, while Breen is signed to a long-term deal.
ESPN previously announced a contract extension for Salters.
Burke will continue to call high-profile NBA games throughout the regular season and the playoffs on ESPN and ABC, including the NBA Sunday Showcase series.
The Athletic reported in June that ESPN execs would re-evaluate and discuss if they feel Burke is better on a two-person broadcast team as opposed to the three-person team.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle defended Burke prior to Game 1 of the Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals series amid the rumors.
Jefferson also stood up for his teammate, with the ex-Net and former NBA champion wearing a shirt that read “My favorite Broadcaster is …Doris Burke” while appearing on “SEC Now” during the College Softball World Series, which he attended with Burke and others.
Burke’s new extension extends her tenure at ESPN beyond 35 years.
Since joining ESPN in 1991, Burke has been assigned to 17 NBA Finals, including six as a game analyst between ABC and ESPN Radio, as well as 11 as sideline reporter for ABC.
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