ESPN and ABC make four-man shortlist to join Doris Burke and Co on NBA Finals commentary team including Grant Hill

ESPN and ABC have big shoes to fill in their NBA Finals analytical lineup.

While Doris Burke and Mike Breen are expected to return to call the NBA Finals once more in 2025, their third seat remains open.

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This vacancy follows the departures of both Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in the summer of 2023, after which ESPN promoted Burke and hired Doc Rivers.

However, Rivers’ stint with the network was short-lived , leaving in December to take over as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks .

Rivers was subsequently replaced by one of the network’s most popular up-and-comers, former NBA star JJ Redick .

The 2024 NBA Finals was a first in the booth for both Redick and Burke – with Burke becoming the first woman to ever call the event.

Since then though, there has been yet another departure.

As with Rivers, Redick too has now up and left the network for his first head coaching role with the Los Angeles Lakers .

Now, ESPN/ABC have reportedly set their sights on one of four potential candidates to replace Redick, as per the New York Times .

The final four are Grant Hill, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and Jay Bilas.

ESPN reportedly did not respond to the Times’ request for a comment.

The reported shortlist prompted a variety of responses from NBA fans on X .

“Jay Bilas will probably stick with College Basketball,” one suggested.

“Legs honestly deserves it, he breaks down a game so well,” said a second.

“RJ is the only real candidate here,” replied a third.

“It’s gonna be Grant Hill, besides being a Hall of Famer he’s actually good on telecasts,” another added.

While a fourth proposed, “ Just bring back Jackson and Van Gundy.”

NBA and College Hall of Famer Hill is a game and studio analyst for TNT Sports where he has covered both the NBA and College games while also having appeared on GameTime.

Former NBA Champion Jefferson is already on ESPN’s books, working as an in-game analyst as well as a studio expert.

A fellow NBA veteran, Legler is another option already in the building with plenty of experience analyzing games,

Both will be a familiar face to fans of First Take , Get Up! , and NBA Today among other shows.

Bilas has been with the network for 29 years, focusing primarily on college basketball, appearing on College GameDay, SportsCenter, and Get Up!

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