List of NBA Finals broadcasters

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The following is a list of the television and radio networks and announcers that have broadcast NBA Finals games in the United States and Canada over the years.

In addition to the English-language broadcasts, the NBA Finals also have Spanish-language broadcasts since 2002.[1][2]

Television

English language

2020s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Rules expert(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Trophy presentation
2023 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Lisa Salters Steve Javie Mike Greenberg Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon, Stephen A. Smith, and Adrian Wojnarowski Lisa Salters
2022 ABC Mark Jones (Game 1–2)
Mike Breen (Games 3–6)
Mark Jackson
Jeff Van Gundy
(Games 2–6)
Lisa Salters Steve Javie Mike Greenberg Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon (all games), Stephen A. Smith (Games 1–3, 5–6), Adrian Wojnarowski (Games 3–6), Magic Johnson (Game 1 only), and Kendrick Perkins (Game 4) Lisa Salters
ESPN2 (alternate; Game 1) N/A Michael Eaves CJ McCollum, Tim Legler and several guests
2021 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Malika Andrews Steve Javie Maria Taylor Jalen Rose, Jay Williams (Games 1–4), and Adrian Wojnarowski Malika Andrews
2020 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Rachel Nichols Steve Javie Maria Taylor Jalen Rose, Jay Williams, Paul Pierce, and Adrian Wojnarowski Rachel Nichols
Notes
  • 2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA postponed its regular season from March 11 to July 29, resuming with the seeding games for the 22 contending teams. Consequently, the 2020 Finals were played inside a bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Bay Lake, Florida from September 30 to October 11, the latest date to end an NBA season. The Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat was the lowest-rated NBA Finals ever (4.0 rating over six games).
  • 2021:
    The Jump
    , canceled due to this incident.
  • 2022: ESPN2 will televise NBA Finals: Celebrating 75, a special alternate presentation for Game 1 which air Thursday at 9 PM ET from Seaport District studios in New York. Several guests will included Magic Johnson and Julius Erving. Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy missed Game 1[3] due to COVID-19 protocols, and Mark Jones filled in for Breen. Jones, Mark Jackson and Lisa Salters made history in Game 1 as the first all-African American broadcast team to cover an NBA Finals game. Breen also missed Game 2, whereas Van Gundy returned.
  • 2023: NBA in Stephen A's World, an alternate broadcast of ESPN's NBA games with Stephen A. Smith as host along with various guests, aired on ESPN2 during Game 1 of the Finals.

2010s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Rules expert(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Trophy presentation
2019 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Steve Javie Michelle Beadle Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Paul Pierce Doris Burke
Sportsnet (Canada; games 1, 3 and 5)[4] Matt Devlin Leo Rautins Eric Smith Brad Fay Alvin Williams and Sherman Hamilton
TSN (Canada; games 2, 4 and 6)[5] Jack Armstrong Kate Beirness Rod Black
James Duthie (2nd panel)
Leo Rautins and Sam Mitchell
Chris Bosh (2nd panel)
2018 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Steve Javie Michelle Beadle Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Paul Pierce Doris Burke
2017 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Steve Javie Michelle Beadle Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups, and Paul Pierce Doris Burke
2016 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke and Craig Sager (Game 6) Steve Javie Sage Steele Jalen Rose, Doug Collins, and Paul Pierce Doris Burke
2015 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Steve Javie Sage Steele Jalen Rose, Doug Collins, and Dwyane Wade (Games 2, 3, 6) Doris Burke
2014 ABC[6] Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Steve Javie Sage Steele Jalen Rose, Doug Collins, and Bill Simmons Stuart Scott
2013 ABC[7] Mike Breen Jeff Van Gundy Doris Burke Steve Javie Michael Wilbon Magic Johnson, Jalen Rose, and Bill Simmons Doris Burke
2012 ABC[8] Mike Breen Jeff Van Gundy Doris Burke Michael Wilbon Jon Barry, Magic Johnson, and Chris Broussard Stuart Scott
2011 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Stuart Scott Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, and Magic Johnson Stuart Scott
ESPN 3D Mark Jones Bruce Bowen (Games 1–2, 5–6)
Tim Legler (Gms 3–4)
2010 ABC[9] Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Stuart Scott Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, and Magic Johnson Stuart Scott
Notes
  • Per the current broadcast agreements, the Finals will be broadcast by ABC through 2025.
  • For the 2019 Finals (the first to feature the Toronto Raptors), TSN and Sportsnet, the main Canadian rightsholders of both the NBA and the Raptors, were permitted to broadcast distinct Canadian telecasts, in addition to the ABC telecast being simulcast on their co-owned broadcast networks. Telecasts on both TSN and Sportsnet use a common technical crew employed by Raptors team owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.[10]

2000s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Trophy presentation
2009 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Doris Burke Stuart Scott Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, and Magic Johnson Stuart Scott
2008 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Michele Tafoya Stuart Scott Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, and Guest Analysts Stuart Scott
2007 ABC Mike Breen
Mark Jackson
Michele Tafoya and Stuart Scott Dan Patrick Jon Barry, Michael Wilbon, and Grant Hill Dan Patrick
2006 ABC Mike Breen Hubie Brown Lisa Salters and Stuart Scott Dan Patrick
Mark Jackson and Michael Wilbon
Dan Patrick
2005 ABC Al Michaels Hubie Brown Michele Tafoya and Stuart Scott Mike Tirico Bill Walton and Greg Anthony Mike Tirico
2004 ABC Al Michaels Doc Rivers Michele Tafoya and Stuart Scott Mike Tirico
Byron Scott
Mike Tirico
2003 ABC Brad Nessler Bill Walton and Tom Tolbert Michele Tafoya and Stuart Scott Mike Tirico Sean Elliott and Guest Analysts Mike Tirico
2002 NBC Marv Albert
Steve Jones
Jim Gray and Lewis Johnson Bob Costas Tom Tolbert Ahmad Rashad
2001 NBC Marv Albert Doug Collins Jim Gray and Lewis Johnson Ahmad Rashad
Steve Jones
Ahmad Rashad
2000 NBC Bob Costas Doug Collins Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray Hannah Storm
Steve Jones
Ahmad Rashad
Notes
  • Although the 2007 NBA Finals aired on ABC (as had been the case since 2003), they were the first to carry the "ESPN on ABC" branding instead of the ABC Sports branding.
    • 2007: The Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers was the lowest rated NBA Finals until 2020 (6.2 percent rating over four games).
    • Since 2007, NBA ratings have steadily risen, thanks to the resurgence of nationally recognized NBA teams, their star power, and their annual presence in the NBA Finals. Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals had the best rating for a basketball game in the contemporary NBA on ABC era, and the 2011 Finals held steady in the ratings department as well. Both series drew over a 10 rating, beating the World Series in consecutive years for the first time ever.
  • 2006: Lisa Salters was the main sideline reporter alongside Stuart Scott with Michele Tafoya on maternity leave. She was the main ABC sideline reporter for that season before sliding back to secondary reporter with Tafoya's return.
  • Continental Airlines Arena. Gary Thorne mentioned this the following night and thanked Nessler for promoting ABC's broadcast of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.[11]
  • During the
    The Los Angeles Times before the 2002 NBA Finals began that he would be ending his 20-year run on NBC Sports with Game 3 of the NBA Finals on the pregame show. A feature in which he interviewed Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant would be his last assignment for the network. He and Hannah Storm were replaced by Bob Costas as host of the pregame show for the Finals, and Rashad declined to join Hannah Storm on the post-game show carried by CNBC.[12]
  • 2001: NBC studio host Hannah Storm did not anchor the NBA Finals due to her being on maternity leave, so Ahmad Rashad replaced her. She returned to cover the NBA Finals in 2002, but as postgame host.

1990s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Trophy presentation
1999 NBC Bob Costas Doug Collins Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray Hannah Storm Isiah Thomas, Bill Walton, and Peter Vescey Ahmad Rashad
1998 NBC Bob Costas Doug Collins and Isiah Thomas Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray Hannah Storm Bill Walton, John Salley, and Peter Vescey Ahmad Rashad
1997 NBC Marv Albert Matt Guokas and Bill Walton Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray Hannah Storm Julius Erving, Mike Fratello, and Peter Vescey Ahmad Rashad
1996 NBC Marv Albert Matt Guokas and Bill Walton Ahmad Rashad, Hannah Storm, and Jim Gray Bob Costas Julius Erving and Peter Vescey Bob Costas
1995 NBC Marv Albert Matt Guokas and Bill Walton Ahmad Rashad, Hannah Storm, and Jim Gray Bob Costas Julius Erving and Peter Vescey Bob Costas
1994 NBC Marv Albert Matt Guokas Ahmad Rashad and Hannah Storm Bob Costas Julius Erving and Peter Vescey Bob Costas
1993 NBC Marv Albert Mike Fratello
Magic Johnson (Games 1–5)
Ahmad Rashad and Hannah Storm Bob Costas Quinn Buckner Bob Costas
1992 NBC Marv Albert Mike Fratello
Magic Johnson (Games 1, 4–5)
Ahmad Rashad Bob Costas Quinn Buckner Bob Costas
1991 NBC Marv Albert Mike Fratello
Steve Jones
Bob Costas Pat Riley Bob Costas
1990 CBS Dick Stockton Hubie Brown Lesley Visser and James Brown
Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien
Notes

1980s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s) Trophy presentation
1989 CBS Dick Stockton Hubie Brown
Pat O'Brien and James Brown
Pat O'Brien
(Game 2 Only)
Brent Musburger
1988 CBS Dick Stockton Billy Cunningham
Pat O'Brien, Lesley Visser, and James Brown
Pat O'Brien
(Game 2 Only)
Brent Musburger
1987 CBS Dick Stockton Tom Heinsohn
Pat O'Brien and James Brown
Brent Musburger Brent Musburger
1986 CBS Dick Stockton Tom Heinsohn
Pat O'Brien
Brent Musburger Julius Erving and Moses Malone Brent Musburger
1985 CBS Dick Stockton Tom Heinsohn
Pat O'Brien and Lesley Visser
Brent Musburger Brent Musburger
1984 CBS Dick Stockton Tom Heinsohn
Pat O'Brien
Brent Musburger Kevin Loughery Brent Musburger
1983 CBS Dick Stockton Bill Russell
Pat O'Brien
Brent Musburger Kevin Loughery Brent Musburger
1982 CBS Dick Stockton Bill Russell Brent Musburger (Games 1–2, 5, and 6)
Frank Glieber (Games 2–4)
Pat O'Brien (Game 5)
Hubie Brown and Kevin Loughery Dick Stockton
1981 CBS Gary Bender Bill Russell and Rick Barry Gary Bender
1980 CBS Brent Musburger
Rod Hundley
Rick Barry Brent Musburger
Notes
  • Pat O'Brien was the pre-game and halftime host for Game 2 because Brent Musburger was on assignment (Musburger was covering the College World Series for CBS). This was also in the case in 1988. This was Musburger's last NBA Finals assignment for CBS, as he was fired on April 1, 1990, months before NBA's television contract with CBS expired. Musburger moved to ABC and ESPN, and later called nine NBA Finals series for ESPN Radio between 1996 and 2004
    .
  • In 1988, CBS achieved its only 20+ rating for an individual NBA game when the network got a 21.2 rating for Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Detroit Pistons. The Pistons would be in the next two NBA Finals, including a sweep the next year, and the lowest ratings CBS had seen in six years the year after that, with a 12.3 in 1990.
  • Pat O'Brien
    attended the birth of son Sean Patrick. O'Brien called Games 1, 2, 5 and 6.
    • In 1987, the NBA Finals hit a then-record rating of 15.9. The 1990 NBA Finals was CBS' last, after nearly two decades televising the NBA. While the network broadcast every Bird-Magic Finals, it never broadcast any Final involving Michael Jordan, who, starting the year after CBS ended involvement with the league, would dominate the NBA in a way that neither Bird or Magic had. In 1990, the final year of the CBS deal, the regular season rating[15] stood at a 5.2. (Each rating point represents 931,000 households.)
  • Game 3 of the 1986 NBA Finals in Houston was played during the midst of an electrical storm that knocked the picture out for the approximately, the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Although the video was already on the fritz towards the end of the third, CBS announcer Dick Stockton waited for nearly three minutes before adjusting to a radio play-by-play.
  • ratings
    .
  • 1983: CBS joined Game 1 in progress with 7:37 left in the first period (meaning, there was no standard pregame coverage). Following the introduction montage (which was notable as it marked premiere of the intercutting, Bill Feigenbaum created CGI rendering of Boston Garden, used by CBS through the start of the 1989 Finals) with narration by anchor Brent Musburger, things were quickly passed off to play-by-play man Dick Stockton.
  • 1982: The '82 Finals marked the first time since 1978 that all games aired live in its entirely; As a compromise between CBS and the NBA, the season returned to late October after starting it in early October the previous two seasons, meaning that the championship series started after the conclusion of May sweeps. Also, Brent Musburger served as anchor for Game 1 in Philadelphia, but had to anchor Games 2 and 3 from New York, because he hosted CBS Sports Sunday. So anchoring the coverage in Musburger's absence were Frank Glieber (Games 2–4) and Pat O'Brien (Game 5).
  • From
    KHOU-TV
    Houston carried Games 1, 2, 5 and 6 live, although most viewers around the country had to wait until after the late local news to see them.
    • 1980 NBA Finals: The series-deciding Game 6 became the most notorious example of CBS's practice of showing even the most important NBA games on "tape delay" broadcasts. Because May 16, 1980 was a Friday, the network did not want to preempt two of its highest-rated shows, The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas, even though both shows were already in reruns: the 1979–80 TV season had ended early, back in March, in anticipation of a strike that summer by the Screen Actors Guild. So Game 6 was shown at 11:30 pm Eastern (10:30 pm Central) in all but four US cities: Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Portland and Seattle, who carried it live. The game was not broadcast at all in Atlanta. (This is often cited as an example of TV's lack of interest in the NBA in the "pre-Magic and Bird" era.)
      • On a side note, here, in Game 4 of the 1980 Finals, Julius Erving executed the legendary Baseline Move, an incredible, behind-the-board reverse layup that seemed to defy gravity. Play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger has noted that Erving made such moves almost routinely in his ABA days—but the ABA had no national TV contract in those days. This Game 4 move, played to a national audience in a title game, has probably become Julius Erving's most famous move.
    • 1981: The series between the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets was the lowest rated NBA Finals in history (6.7 rating over six games), until the 2003 NBA Finals drew only 6.5 percent of American television households. Four games of the 1981 series (Games 1, 2, 5 and the climatic Game 6) were telecast on tape delay outside of Boston and Houston.
      • As previously mentioned, before
        rating in NBA history. The 1981 Finals drew a 6.7 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. Meanwhile, the 2003 Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets drew a 6.5 rating. Due to this, the 1981 Finals were the last to be broadcast on tape-delay, with weeknight games airing after the late local news in most cities. Games 3 and 4 were played back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, to give CBS two live Finals games. Following the Finals, Gary Bender was relegated to tertiary play-by-play for the rest of his tenure in CBS, while Rick Barry's contract, following his questionable racial comments about Bill Russell during the Finals, was not renewed. Russell would remain the main color commentator for the next two years alongside newly promoted main play-by-play commentator Dick Stockton. Curiously, Barry and Russell would reunite, this time on the NBA on TBS during the mid-1980s. Russell was replaced as CBS' lead analyst following the 1983 Finals by former Celtics teammate Tom Heinsohn
        .

1970s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter Studio host Trophy presentation
1979 CBS Brent Musburger
Rod Hundley
Stu Lantz Brent Musburger
1978 CBS Brent Musburger
Steve Jones (Game 1)
John Havlicek (Games 2, 4 and 7)
Gus Johnson (Game 3)
Keith Erickson
(Games 4 and 5)
Brent Musburger
1977 CBS Brent Musburger
Steve Jones
1976 CBS Brent Musburger Rick Barry and Mendy Rudolph Sonny Hill Mendy Rudolph
1975 CBS Brent Musburger Oscar Robertson Oscar Robertson
1974 CBS Pat Summerall
Rod Hundley
1973 ABC Keith Jackson Bill Russell Chris Schenkel Howard Cosell
1972 ABC Keith Jackson Bill Russell Chris Schenkel Howard Cosell
1971 ABC Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman Jack Twyman
1970 ABC Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman Howard Cosell
Notes
  • 1977: The post-game trophy presentation following Game 6 was never aired because CBS decided to air the Kemper Open following the game. Initially CBS wanted a 10:30 am. PT start to accommodate the golf tournament but the NBA refused, instead settling for the 12:00 pm. PT start time.
  • 1976: There were three days of rest between Game 1 Sunday, May 23 and Game 2 Thursday, May 27, so that CBS would not have to count an NBA game in the Nielsen ratings for the May sweeps period. The 1976 May sweeps period ended Wednesday, May 26.
    • Game 3 tipped off at 10:30 am. MST to allow CBS to cover The Memorial golf tournament following the game. Church attendance that Sunday was sharply lower across Arizona, drawing an angry response from many clergy throughout the state.
    • CBS play-by-play announcer Brent Musburger, in a Fall 2009 interview with ESPN, said that he and color announcer Rick Barry were rooting for Phoenix to win Games 3, 4, and 6, although Barry's Golden State Warriors were eliminated by the Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Musburger said that this was because he and Barry were paid by the game. Since the Series was 2–0 Boston after the first two games, Musburger and Barry wanted the Suns to win the next two games to tie the series (likewise with Game 6). Boston fans, unaware of Musburger's and Barry's motivations, were upset with the announcing crew because of their apparent favoritism.
  • 1970: The first NBA Finals to be nationally televised in full.
    • MSG Network
      in New York City, which was then only available in about 25,000 cable households in Manhattan.
Surviving broadcasts
  • 1970: LakersKnicks – Game 7 is intact.
  • 1973: KnicksLakers – Games 1–4 is missing, but Game 5 was found and shown as a special on the MSG network in 2013.

1960s

Year Network Games Play-by-play Color commentator
1969 ABC 3, 5–7 Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman
Synd.
4 Bob Wolff Ed Macauley
1968 ABC 1, 4 Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman
1967 ABC 2, 5 Chris Schenkel Jack Twyman
1966 ABC 1, 5 Chris Schenkel Bob Cousy
Synd.
7 Bob Wolff Jack Twyman
1965 ABC 1, 5 Chris Schenkel Bob Cousy
1964 SNI 4 Marty Glickman Fred Schaus
1963 SNI 6 Bob Wolff
1962 NBC 1–2 Bob Wolff Bud Palmer
1961 NBC 1, 3–4 Lindsey Nelson Bud Palmer
1960 NBC 1, 3–4, 7 Lindsey Nelson Curt Gowdy
Notes
Surviving broadcasts

1950s

Year Network Games Play-by-play Color commentator
1959 NBC 1–2 Lindsey Nelson Curt Gowdy
1958 NBC 1 Lindsey Nelson Curt Gowdy
1957 NBC 1, 7 Lindsey Nelson Curt Gowdy
1956 NBC 1 Lindsey Nelson Curt Gowdy
1955 NBC 2, 6 Marty Glickman Lindsey Nelson
1954 DuMont 2, 5 Marty Glickman Lindsey Nelson

Spanish language

2020s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s)
2023 ESPN Deportes Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto Sebastian Christensen and Katia Castorena
Leo Montero
Andrés Nocioni
2022 ESPN Deportes Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto Sebastian Christensen and Katia Castorena
Leo Montero
Andrés Nocioni
2021 ESPN Deportes Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto Sebastian Christensen
Leo Montero
Andrés Nocioni
2020 ESPN Deportes Ernesto Jerez Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen
Leo Montero
Fabricio Oberto

2010s

Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s)
2019 ESPN Deportes Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto
2018 ESPN Deportes Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto
2017 ESPN Deportes Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen and Claudia Trejos Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto
2016 ESPN Deportes Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen and Claudia Trejos Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto
2015 ESPN Deportes Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales Sebastian Christensen and Claudia Trejos Ernesto Jerez Fabricio Oberto
2014 ESPN Deportes[16] Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales and Alejandro Montecchia Sebastian Christensen Claudia Trejos
2013 ESPN Deportes[17] Álvaro Martín Carlos Morales and Alejandro Montecchia Sebastian Christensen Claudia Trejos Eduardo Nájera

National Radio

2020s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host(s) Studio analyst(s)
2023 ESPN Marc Kestecher Doris Burke and P. J. Carlesimo
Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Kevin Winter
2022 ESPN Marc Kestecher Doris Burke and P. J. Carlesimo (Games 1–2, 5–6)
Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
Kevin Winter
2021 ESPN Marc Kestecher Doris Burke and Jon Barry Kevin Winter P. J. Carlesimo and Monica McNutt
2020 ESPN Marc Kestecher Doris Burke and P. J. Carlesimo Kevin Winter

2010s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host(s) Studio analyst(s)
2019 ESPN Marc Kestecher Hubie Brown Ramona Shelburne Kevin Winter Jon Barry
2018 ESPN Marc Kestecher Hubie Brown (Games 1–3)
Jon Barry (Game 4)
Ramona Shelburne Kevin Winter Jon Barry (Games 1–3)
P. J. Carlesimo (Game 4)
2017 ESPN Marc Kestecher Hubie Brown Marc Stein Kevin Winter Jon Barry
2016 ESPN Kevin Calabro Hubie Brown Marc Stein and Shelley Smith Marc Kestecher Jon Barry
2015 ESPN Mike Tirico Hubie Brown Marc Stein Marc Kestecher Jon Barry
2014[6] ESPN Kevin Calabro Hubie Brown Marc Stein Marc Kestecher Jon Barry
2013[7] ESPN Mike Tirico (Games 1–3, 5–7)
Kevin Calabro (Game 4)
Hubie Brown Marc Stein Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2012[8] ESPN Jim Durham Hubie Brown and Jack Ramsay Ric Bucher Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2011 ESPN Mike Tirico Hubie Brown and Jack Ramsay Ric Bucher Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2010[9] ESPN Jim Durham Hubie Brown and Jack Ramsay Ric Bucher Marc Kestecher Will Perdue

2000s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host(s) Studio analyst(s)
2009 ESPN Mike Tirico Hubie Brown and Jack Ramsay Ric Bucher Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2008 ESPN Mike Tirico Hubie Brown Ric Bucher Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2007 ESPN Mike Tirico Hubie Brown Ric Bucher and Lisa Salters Marc Kestecher Will Perdue
2006 ESPN Jim Durham Jack Ramsay
2005 ESPN Jim Durham Jack Ramsay
2004 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
2003 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
2002 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
2001 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
2000 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay Fred Carter and Quinn Buckner Jim Durham P. J. Carlesimo

1990s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio Host
1999 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
1998 ESPN Jim Durham Jack Ramsay
1997 ESPN Brent Musburger[18] Jack Ramsay
1996 ESPN Brent Musburger Jack Ramsay
1995 NBA Joe McConnell Wes Unseld Glenn Ordway Tom Hanneman
1994 NBA Joe McConnell Bob Lanier Tom Hanneman
1993 NBA Joe McConnell Bob Lanier
1992 NBA Joe McConnell Dick Versace[19][20] Tom Hanneman
1991 NBA Joe McConnell Frank Layden
1990 ABC Fred Manfra[21] Dick Vitale[22][23] and Earl Monroe

1980s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
1989 ABC[24] Fred Manfra Dick Vitale[25] and Earl Monroe[26]
1988 ABC Fred Manfra Dick Vitale[27]
1987 ABC Fred Manfra Dick Vitale[28]
1986 ABC Fred Manfra Oscar Robertson[29]
1985 ABC Fred Manfra Oscar Robertson
1984 Mutual Tony Roberts Oscar Robertson
1983 Mutual Tony Roberts Tom Heinsohn
1982 Mutual
1981 Mutual
1980 Mutual

1970s

Year Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
1978 Mutual Tony Roberts Hubie Brown
1973 Mutual
1970 Mutual

Local Radio

NBA local teams each have their own respective radio networks serving different regions of their surrounding local areas, each with their own individually recognized flagship station.

Local team radio broadcasts are also available nationally on

Sirius-XM, or internationally available on NBA League Pass
.

2020s

Year Flagship Radio Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
2023 KKSE
WQAM
Denver Nuggets
Miami Heat
Jason Kosmicki
Jason Jackson
Scott Hastings
Amy Audibert
2021 KMVP
WTMJ
Phoenix Suns
Milwaukee Bucks
Al McCoy
Ted Davis
Tim Kempton
Dennis Krause

1990s

Year Flagship Radio Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
1998 KFNZ
WMAQ
Utah Jazz
Chicago Bulls
Hot Rod Hundley
Neil Funk
Ron Boone
Derrek Dickey
1997 KFNZ
WMAQ
Utah Jazz
Chicago Bulls
Hot Rod Hundley
Neil Funk
Ron Boone
Derrek Dickey
1996 KJR
WMAQ
Seattle SuperSonics
Chicago Bulls
Kevin Calabro
Neil Funk
1993 KTAR
WMAQ
Phoenix Suns
Chicago Bulls
Al McCoy
Neil Funk
Cotton Fitzsimmons
Tom Boerwinkle
1992 KEX
WMAQ
Portland Trail Blazers
Chicago Bulls
Bill Schonely
Neil Funk
?
Tom Boerwinkle
1991
WLUP
Los Angeles Lakers
Chicago Bulls
Chick Hearn
Jim Durham
Johnny "Red" Kerr
1990 KEX
WWJ
Portland Trail Blazers
Detroit Pistons
Bill Schonely
George Blaha

1980s

Year Flagship Radio Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
1989 KLAC
WWJ
Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit Pistons
Chick Hearn
George Blaha
Stu Lantz
?
1988 KLAC
WWJ
Los Angeles Lakers
Detroit Pistons
Chick Hearn
George Blaha
Stu Lantz
?
1987 KLAC
WRKO
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Chick Hearn
Johnny Most
Stu Lantz
Glenn Ordway
1985 KLAC
WRKO
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Chick Hearn
Johnny Most
?
Glenn Ordway

1970s

Year Flagship Radio Network
Play-by-play
Color commentator(s)
1976 KTAR
?
Phoenix Suns
Boston Celtics
Al McCoy
Johnny Most

References

  1. ^ NBA Finals 2002 to be broadcast on TV, radio, Internet - NBA, 29 May 2002
  2. ^ Telemundo to Air NBA en Español - R. Thomas Umstead, Multichannel, 25 August 2002
  3. ^ Contes, Brandon (June 2, 2022). "Jeff Van Gundy and Adrian Wojnarowski to miss Game 1 of the NBA Finals between Celtics and Warriors after positive COVID tests". Awful Announcing. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Rogers Media (press release) (May 27, 2019). "Sportsnet Announces Toronto Raptors NBA Finals Broadcast Schedule". Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Bell Media (press release) (May 27, 2019). "TSN Announces Schedule for NBA Finals, Featuring Toronto Raptors vs. Golden State Warriors". Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Cafardo, Ben (June 2, 2014). "The Finals on ABC to Tip Off June 5: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Hudak, Kristen (June 4, 2013). "NBA Finals to Tip Off June 6 on ABC". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Cafardo, Ben (June 10, 2012). "NBA Finals Tip Off Tuesday on ABC & ESPN Radio". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "The NBA Finals Begin Thursday Exclusively on ABC". ESPN Media Zone. June 1, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  10. ^ Dachman, Jason. "NBA Finals 2019: As Raptors Fever Takes Over Canada, MLSE Serves Up Game Coverage on Sportsnet, TSN". Sports Video Group. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  11. ^ NHL on ABC: Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals (television). ABC Sports. June 9, 2003.
  12. ^ Stewart, Larry (June 10, 2002). "Walton Delivers the Jabs, O'Neal the Knockout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  13. ^ "72 million saw Bulls take the prize". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. June 17, 1998. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  14. ^ "NBA Players Removed from U.S. Rosters". Los Angeles Times. June 17, 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
  15. ^ THE MEDIA BUSINESS; NBC and N.B.A. Agree to $750 Million Pact
  16. ^ Nunez, Gabriela (June 5, 2014). "ESPN Deportes' Presentation of NBA Finals". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  17. ^ Rocher, Sofia (June 5, 2013). "ESPN Deportes Exclusive Presentation of NBA Finals". ESPN Media Zone. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  18. ^ Greenstein, Teddy (May 21, 1997). "HOT HEAT FACES COOLING BREEZE PUNDITS THINK JORDAN, PIPPEN MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR MIAMI". Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  19. ^ Banks, Lacy J. (June 7, 1992). "Good road show by generous Reinsdorf". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 5.
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