NBA on ESPN Radio
Encyclopedia
The NBA on ESPN Radio is a broadcast of National Basketball Association
games on the ESPN Radio
network. Games on ESPN Radio are distributed on over 200 radio stations in the United States
and Canada
. The program began on January 21, 1996 and the current contract runs through the 2015-2016 season. The coverage can also be heard on ESPN Radio.com and on DGamer
.
on play-by-play and Dr. Jack Ramsay as the color commentator
. Other broadcasters have included Kevin Calabro
, Brent Musburger
, Tim Legler
, Howard David
, Doug Brown
, and Will Perdue
. Musburger has called several NBA Finals for ESPN Radio, his last being the 2004 NBA Finals
.
In June 2006, ESPN announced that Mike Tirico
would replace Jim Durham
on NBA Finals games starting in 2007
. Initially, Dr. Jack Ramsay said that he would retire.
Ramsay did not retire; as of the 2008-09 NBA season, he worked regular season games with Durham, until Western Conference Finals. Tirico along with Hubie Brown
calls Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Ramsay joined them in the 2009 NBA Finals
. Durham called the 2010 Finals
, as Tirico was on assignment at the World Cup
.
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
games on the ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
network. Games on ESPN Radio are distributed on over 200 radio stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The program began on January 21, 1996 and the current contract runs through the 2015-2016 season. The coverage can also be heard on ESPN Radio.com and on DGamer
DGamer
DGamer was an online game and social network service developed by Disney for use with Nintendo DS games. DGamer is accessible via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or computer via the DGamer Channel on Disney.com...
.
Overview
As the primary national radio partner of the NBA, ESPN Radio broadcasts games on a weekly basis including some of the league's marquee events:- Thursday night regular season games.
- Mid-season Sunday afternoon games, occasional double-headers (since 2004).
- Christmas Day games.
- All Star Game festivities.
- Most of the NBA PlayoffsNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
, including all of the Conference FinalsNBA Conference FinalsThe National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
and NBA FinalsNBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
.
Broadcasters
Since the debut of NBA games on the network, ESPN Radio games have featured the lead broadcast team of Jim DurhamJim Durham
Jim Durham is an American sportscaster.Since 1995, he has called numerous National Basketball Association games for ESPN and ESPN Radio. Durham has spent more than 32 years calling NBA games on TV and radio; his previous assignments were with the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks, TNT and TBS...
on play-by-play and Dr. Jack Ramsay as the color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
. Other broadcasters have included Kevin Calabro
Kevin Calabro
Kevin Calabro is an American play-by-play announcer and talk show host for 710 ESPN Seattle. The Kevin Calabro Show airs from 3-6p PT and features cohost and Seattle P-I columnist Jim Moore, as well as ESPN Senior NFL Writer and Analyst John Clayton...
, Brent Musburger
Brent Musburger
Brent Woody Musburger is an American sportscaster for the ESPN and ABC television networks. Formerly with CBS Sports and one of the original members of their legendary program The NFL Today, Musburger has covered NASCAR, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball games. Musburger has also served as a...
, Tim Legler
Tim Legler
Timothy Eugene Legler is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He is currently an ESPN basketball analyst.-La Salle:...
, Howard David
Howard David
-Biography:Over the years, David has been the radio play-by-play man for several pro sports teams including the NBA's New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics, and the NFL's New York Jets and Miami Dolphins...
, Doug Brown
Doug Brown (sportscaster)
Doug Brown is an American sportscaster who has worked for ESPN Radio since 1993. He is currently the host of SportsCenterNightly.Brown has previously worked for WSAR , WHLL , WNDS, WBZ Radio , WEEI , WSBK-TV , WABU...
, and Will Perdue
Will Perdue
William Edward Perdue is a retired American NBA basketball player who won four NBA Championships. Perdue is now an ESPN basketball commentator and analyst.Perdue attended Merritt Island High School, Merritt Island, Florida...
. Musburger has called several NBA Finals for ESPN Radio, his last being the 2004 NBA Finals
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
.
In June 2006, ESPN announced that Mike Tirico
Mike Tirico
Michael Todd Tirico is an announcer for ESPN's presentation of Monday Night Football, and second lead broadcaster for ESPN's presentation of the NBA. In addition, Tirico hosts a multitude of programming on ESPN/ABC. He was the host of ABC's golf coverage from 1996 to 2007, and continues in that...
would replace Jim Durham
Jim Durham
Jim Durham is an American sportscaster.Since 1995, he has called numerous National Basketball Association games for ESPN and ESPN Radio. Durham has spent more than 32 years calling NBA games on TV and radio; his previous assignments were with the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks, TNT and TBS...
on NBA Finals games starting in 2007
2007 NBA Finals
The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The best-of-seven series was played between the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs and the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland...
. Initially, Dr. Jack Ramsay said that he would retire.
Ramsay did not retire; as of the 2008-09 NBA season, he worked regular season games with Durham, until Western Conference Finals. Tirico along with Hubie Brown
Hubie Brown
Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown is a retired American basketball coach and a current television analyst. Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, the honors being separated by 26 years...
calls Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Ramsay joined them in the 2009 NBA Finals
2009 NBA Finals
The 2009 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2008-09 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending Western Conference champions, and the Orlando Magic, champions of the...
. Durham called the 2010 Finals
2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2009–10 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending NBA champions, and the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference...
, as Tirico was on assignment at the World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.