Veteran reporter Doris Burke is soon to be promoted to NBA Finals coverage by ESPN.
That is according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, who is reporting that the network is also set to hire former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers.
Burk and Rivers are now poised to form ESPN’s Big 3 alongside Mike Breen while Mark Jackson will be demoted to the “B” team or taken off the network altogether.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports has been intent on making Burke the first female analyst to call the NBA Finals since firing Jeff Van Gundy last month. The report notes that nothing is final as yet but things are definitely moving in that direction.
The Post cites sources claiming Jackson could be made to join Mark Jones on the second team but could depart should he find that unsatisfactory.
As for Van Gundy, while he was one of the best in-game analysts in sports, execs at the company are understood to have been aware of his desire to return to coaching. He was also very outspoken in his criticism of the NBA’s officiating and it’s believed that the league had a part to play in his getting relieved of his post.
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There is no proof of the latter.
ESPN could have simply replaced Van Gundy with Burke but there was a feeling that she would not have the same chemistry he shared with Jackson, which is why he’s being taken off the team.
