Although the network’s most notable game commentators — Mike Breen on play-by-play and Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson as analysts — returns, the rest of ESPN’s NBA programming features a fresh set of voices and a new show as the network opted for a major offseason shakeup.
Here’s everything you need to know about ESPN’s NBA programming heading into the new season.
How to watch NBA games in 2021-22 on ESPN
ESPN and ABC will nationally televise 101 NBA games this season, which is the most of any other national station (TNT has 65 and NBA TV has 107).
ESPN will broadcast 82 games total, including five games on Christmas Day, highlighted by a potential Finals meeting with the Nets and Lakers.
ABC will have primetime games on seven Saturdays and contests on nine Sundays. ESPN will televise doubleheaders on the final day of the regular season, and the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 12 through April 15. ESPN and ABC will broadcast the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, and ABC will televise the 2022 NBA Finals.
MORE: Watch NBA on ESPN with fuboTV (seven-day free trial)
Some of the top ESPN matchups include Kevin Durant’s return to face the Warriors for the first time with fans in attendance on Jan. 29, as well as a pair of matchups between the Lakers and Warriors on Feb. 12 and March, 5, respectively.
ABC’s most notable matchups include an NBA Finals rematch between the Suns and Bucks on March 6 and a meeting between the Suns and Jazz — the top two seeds in the Western Conference last season — on Feb. 27.
MORE: The 10 ‘can’t miss’ games on the NBA schedule
Who are the announcers for NBA on ESPN?
Play-by-play
Mike Breen Mark Jones Dave Pasch Ryan Ruocco Brian Custer Beth Mowins
Analysts
Jeff Van Gundy Mark Jackson Richard Jefferson Vince Carter Hubie Brown Doris Burke
Reporters
Lisa Salters Cassidy Hubbarth Malika Andrews Jorge Sedano Rosalyn Gold-Onwude Katie George
What are ESPN’s NBA studio shows?
“NBA Countdown”: This show serves as the primer for game telecasts on ABC and ESPN. Its new team will feature analysts Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Jalen Rose and host Mike Greenberg, as well as frequent appearances from Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson. The team will make its debut at Madison Square Garden ahead of the Celtics vs. Knicks game on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p. m. ET and will have on-site updates within the 6 p. m. edition of SportsCenter leading into NBA Countdown. Starting in January, the Wednesday editions of NBA Countdown will be hosted by Michael Eaves and feature Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and WNBA Star Chiney Ogwumike. “NBA Today”: Replacing “The Jump,” NBA Today will be the program’s new weekday afternoon show, which will be hosted by Malika Andrews and include analysts Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, Vince Carter and Zach Lowe. It will make its debut on Monday, Oct. 18 on ESPN2 and will air on ESPN on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The show will air from 3 p. m. to 4 p. m. ET Mondays through Fridays. “Hoop Streams”: ESPN’s digital pre-game show will hosted by Cassidy Hubbarth and debut during “premiere week” leading into ESPN’s first night of NBA game coverage on Wednesday, Oct. 18. The show is available on the ESPN App and ESPN’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube platforms.
