NEWS: ABC/ESPN has demoted Doris Burke from its NBA Finals team and promoted Tim Legler, sources tell @andrewmarchand.bsky.social. Legler will pair Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson. Read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
Replies
Why??
aug 28, 2025, 3:52 pm • 0 0 • view
Thank you lord
aug 28, 2025, 5:12 pm • 0 0 • view
If "your" team is playing any of the big market teams, she's unbearable to listen to/watch! Can't we have people that are less biased to one of the teams playing and just comment on the action on the court!
aug 28, 2025, 6:07 pm • 0 0 • view
I love Doris but she was not good in the Finals at all and Legler has been consistently amazing.
aug 28, 2025, 4:15 pm • 0 0 • view
That is not a good move for ESPN
aug 28, 2025, 4:03 pm • 11 0 • view
Legler Breen and Jefferson are all worthless.
aug 28, 2025, 5:18 pm • 0 0 • view
Horrible decision. Nothing against Legler, but Doris Burke is awesome and should not be removed.
aug 28, 2025, 4:37 pm • 1 0 • view
They never should gotten rid of Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. Burke and Jefferson were a step back.
aug 28, 2025, 4:18 pm • 6 0 • view
Thank god, Doris Burke is unbearable. This isn't a man/woman thing either, I just think she is awful and her voice is annoying. I don't like Richard Jefferson either and wish they had demoted him too.
aug 28, 2025, 4:28 pm • 1 0 • view
Legler is excellent btw. I do not understand how the network considers Jefferson worthy of inclusion over Burke. He is not good at the job.
aug 29, 2025, 6:30 am • 0 0 • view
This is bullshit! Both Legler and Burke are really good but she did nothing to cause her to be demoted.
aug 28, 2025, 4:26 pm • 1 0 • view
Well.... she's female, which is cause enough in Trump's 2025.
aug 28, 2025, 5:11 pm • 3 0 • view
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
aug 28, 2025, 5:18 pm • 0 0 • view
I miss TNT already. Ugh.
aug 28, 2025, 3:56 pm • 16 0 • view
I have some bad news for you. ABC/ESPN has had the finals since 2003… soooo yeah. Nothing to do with TNT
aug 29, 2025, 2:55 am • 1 0 • view
Aww thanks for man splaining. I thought it was the exact same company and exact thing and only ESPN ever had broadcasting rights. I feel like such a better person now.
aug 29, 2025, 6:13 am • 0 0 • view
Huh? Just saying this would unfortunately would have still happened if TNT still had games. TNT has never televised NBA finals games as far as I know.🤷♂️ lol take care and may the force be with you.
aug 29, 2025, 9:19 am • 0 0 • view
Legler sucks. This is BS
aug 28, 2025, 4:50 pm • 2 0 • view
despicable yet I wouldn't expect anything else from @espn.com &/Or #abc
aug 28, 2025, 4:07 pm • 1 0 • view
Booooooooo
aug 28, 2025, 3:45 pm • 5 0 • view
It should have been Legler-Burke-Breen. Richard Jefferson is the biggest industry plant in NBA commentary.
aug 28, 2025, 10:26 pm • 0 0 • view
Doris >> Jefferson
aug 28, 2025, 4:48 pm • 4 0 • view
Wtf
aug 28, 2025, 4:39 pm • 1 0 • view
In all honesty, Doris has not been "good" the past few seasons...however, Richard Jefferson has been significantly worse and downright embarrassing.
aug 28, 2025, 4:45 pm • 1 0 • view
Yea, don't want to hear private jokes nor unrelated conversations during game time. Talking to you Richard Jefferson.
aug 28, 2025, 7:06 pm • 0 1 • view
Thank you!! While I’m sure she had the expertise to comment on games, her voice was incredibly hard to listen to. Now do it for Tony Romo.
aug 28, 2025, 5:07 pm • 1 0 • view
aug 28, 2025, 3:53 pm • 1 0 • view
UNACCEPTABLE. She rules.
aug 29, 2025, 2:29 am • 1 0 • view
Richard Jefferson is legitimately the worst color commentator I have ever heard.
aug 28, 2025, 4:35 pm • 1 1 • view
Doris was really good at describing the nuance of the gameplay & referee decisions so non rabid fans understood what the hell was going on. I'll miss her.
aug 28, 2025, 4:02 pm • 5 0 • view
I'd like to demote ABC/ESPN from the Finals team.
aug 29, 2025, 1:16 am • 1 0 • view
Bring back Doris and lose Jefferson! He is the most boring commentator in history. Just absolutely drones on about nothing just to hear his own voice.
aug 28, 2025, 3:54 pm • 21 3 • view
Boooooooo I do love Legler but Doris is the best
aug 28, 2025, 3:52 pm • 2 0 • view
They all should have been demoted after how they treated the Wolves.
aug 28, 2025, 4:58 pm • 1 0 • view
Doris was not the problem.
aug 28, 2025, 4:51 pm • 9 0 • view
Anti-DEI
aug 28, 2025, 8:22 pm • 0 0 • view
Dumbest move by Disney. One of the best analysts in the business. #NBCSports has the chance to do the right thing and instantly enhance their NBA on NBC team.
aug 28, 2025, 4:15 pm • 0 0 • view
I guarantee NBC's NBA coverage will be much more serious than Disney/ABC/ESPN's.
aug 29, 2025, 2:28 pm • 1 0 • view
I find her obnoxious in the same way I find Bill Simmons obnoxious. She thinks instinctively about sports in terms of narrative storytelling and privileges her faves. She waxes poetic. But so do all the greats and they’re all passionately obnoxious half the time. And *Richard Jefferson* remains? 😬
aug 28, 2025, 6:49 pm • 0 0 • view
To further clarify: people like Doris are real sports journalists interested in the overarching and ongoing historical story of the sport. They’re bloviating nerds, but the sport needs them to jostle for position in mythmaking. Legler is ok but not on her level. Wonder what this is about?
aug 28, 2025, 6:53 pm • 0 0 • view
N O ❗️ She is so knowledgeable!
aug 28, 2025, 5:38 pm • 0 0 • view
lmao
aug 28, 2025, 6:39 pm • 0 0 • view
ESPN really has no respect for its viewers
aug 28, 2025, 3:54 pm • 1 0 • view
This is total BS! 😤
aug 28, 2025, 7:58 pm • 0 0 • view
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
aug 28, 2025, 3:45 pm • 2 0 • view
I hate this. Burke is the best color analyst in the game. She comes to every broadcast fully prepared. She's extremely articulate, insightful, and unbiased. Three qualities Legler sorely lacks in comparison.
aug 28, 2025, 5:39 pm • 3 0 • view
three people are not a pair
aug 28, 2025, 6:05 pm • 4 0 • view
I do not watch a ton of NBA and Burke is my favourite analyst and this is a huge mistake.
aug 28, 2025, 4:02 pm • 4 0 • view
Boooo! Doris is great
aug 28, 2025, 5:01 pm • 1 0 • view
Ew gross. Doris is life
aug 28, 2025, 6:07 pm • 1 0 • view
Every circus needs a clown
aug 28, 2025, 4:48 pm • 1 0 • view
to appease orange fuck?
aug 28, 2025, 7:22 pm • 0 0 • view
Booo!
aug 28, 2025, 4:41 pm • 1 0 • view
Jefferson should be the one getting demoted
aug 28, 2025, 4:27 pm • 1 0 • view
Bad decision.
aug 28, 2025, 4:11 pm • 1 0 • view
How does Richard Jefferson maintain his place on that team. Burke was so much better than Jefferson
aug 28, 2025, 4:09 pm • 5 0 • view
Er...penis?
aug 28, 2025, 5:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Oh happy day!!!
aug 28, 2025, 4:02 pm • 2 0 • view
👎
aug 28, 2025, 3:50 pm • 1 0 • view
Yeesh. I rarely watch NBA anymore but even I know Jefferson sucks.
aug 28, 2025, 8:08 pm • 0 0 • view
Jefferson? Nah
aug 28, 2025, 4:12 pm • 1 0 • view
Translation: Men don't want to see women talking about sports. Unless they want to sleep with them. Then, maybe, just maybe, that's ok.
aug 28, 2025, 6:45 pm • 1 0 • view
Good riddance bitch
aug 28, 2025, 5:57 pm • 0 0 • view
Finally. She talks so fkng much during games. I used to wonder if she was being paid by the word. (We can use less conversation from Richard Jefferson, also.)
aug 28, 2025, 3:54 pm • 2 0 • view
She’s not that great but Jefferson is worse
aug 28, 2025, 4:21 pm • 1 0 • view
Terrible move.
aug 28, 2025, 3:50 pm • 1 0 • view
I feel mostly bad for the guys on The Rewatchables who will have to retire their Doris Burke impersonations.
aug 28, 2025, 4:51 pm • 1 0 • view
Why?????
aug 28, 2025, 3:44 pm • 2 0 • view
because she is a woman. We all apparently have to cater to the most insecure white men in the world.
aug 28, 2025, 3:47 pm • 28 2 • view
Yep I think you’re right 😭🤬. Goddamit. Damn you ESPN for catering to this regressive crap.
aug 28, 2025, 4:02 pm • 1 0 • view
Doris is so awesome and beautiful!! Tim is .. just another dude.
aug 28, 2025, 4:03 pm • 2 0 • view
she is the worst commentator in the league. i would prefer a tape recorder of mark jackson saying "mama there goes that man" on loop
aug 28, 2025, 4:05 pm • 0 0 • view
Jefferson is 100x worse. Easily.
aug 28, 2025, 4:36 pm • 2 0 • view
Are you serious? Her floor interviews are awesome, have always been, through the decades
aug 28, 2025, 4:06 pm • 1 0 • view
she's great on the floor, terrible in the booth. i think she'd be good in a halftime studio setting too
aug 28, 2025, 4:08 pm • 0 0 • view
That’s the thing. She was awesome doing her thing on the floor and at the ceremonies. She was a perfect fit for the job, I think.
aug 28, 2025, 4:16 pm • 0 0 • view
it's springtime for misogyny in america.
aug 28, 2025, 5:17 pm • 0 0 • view
Racist, mysogonistic Trump has given everyone permission to discriminate again. We are back in the ,1950's again!
aug 28, 2025, 5:39 pm • 5 1 • view
This will be liked by the majority of NBA fans. Legler is the best national color commentator - he knows the game, and explains it well. It's amazing ESPN still employs someone who knows ball in age of Stephen A. Burke never meshed w Jefferson; it was awkward all season. We'll see if Legler fits
aug 28, 2025, 3:48 pm • 15 0 • view
I think you meant to say Jefferson never meshed with Burke…
aug 28, 2025, 4:17 pm • 46 0 • view
Doris is a goddamned national treasure. Richard Jefferson never lost the third-banana energy from his playing days. When I was a sports writer, the most blissful part of being in a press box was never having to listen to play-by-play or color commentary. Shit like this reminds me why.
aug 28, 2025, 4:57 pm • 19 0 • view
A National treasure at reasonable doses maybe. Her on a 2.5 hour NBA broadcast is brutal, sorry. She turns 5 minute segments of the game into her own personal podcast like OKAY WE GET IT.
aug 28, 2025, 5:47 pm • 1 0 • view
Compared to who? Van Gundy and Mark Jackson? Love JVG and thought Jackson was serviceable, but Doris was an upgrade on both. I mean, maybe it’s because I tune the announcers out, largely, but also (and I submit this GIF with respect):
aug 28, 2025, 5:52 pm • 0 0 • view
People on this app are firmly in the minority in their positive opinions about Doris. It’s okay to be critical of women It’s fine, put another woman in there. Any woman. Has nothing to do with that. Is she better than Mark Jackson? I guess. I beat my 5 year old niece in a race once too, big deal.
aug 28, 2025, 5:55 pm • 1 0 • view
It’s okay to be critical of women. But not *because* they are women (which I’m not saying you were doing). I was lucky to be a sports writer for a while. I got to meet a lot of great broadcast folks and talk with them about the craft. Doris is real good. Just my opinion, but an informed one.
aug 28, 2025, 6:00 pm • 0 0 • view
lol the third-banana energy comment is fantastic
aug 28, 2025, 5:11 pm • 3 0 • view
I did not. They both did a poor job of playing off each other. I'm not sure which one is at fault. Probably both of them. I do know Richard Jefferson is seen as the rising star, so he gets to stay. That's how media works, and Burke surely recognizes that.
aug 28, 2025, 4:24 pm • 0 0 • view
Jefferson is objectively awful at the job in every way.
aug 28, 2025, 4:35 pm • 0 0 • view
Doris Burke was already a star
aug 28, 2025, 4:35 pm • 21 0 • view
What does that mean? Were millions (even many thousands) tuning in just for her? Breen is the star, if anyone. Ratings are not going to suffer one iota b/c of this. If people want to watch only NBA games involving Doris Burke, they can tune into the #2 team, which she'll now be on.
aug 28, 2025, 4:50 pm • 0 0 • view
Maybe putting the bar a little high here because I would say if you define "NBA Finals Announcing Star" as, "millions tuning in just for [them]," then there has never been and will never be an "NBA Finals Announcing Star"
aug 28, 2025, 4:58 pm • 0 0 • view
Right, that's my point. Neither one does that. But it is important that one has over a million TikTok followers and the other doesn't have an account (as far as I can tell). ESPN wants its announcers in modern media spaces promoting the product & themselves, across the board. Jefferson has that.
aug 28, 2025, 5:09 pm • 0 0 • view
...and my last comment, bc I really don't care that much about this: I think both are fine announcers. I am glad Burke will still call a ton of games on the #2 team. But this move makes sense on multiple levels for ESPN, and I'm particularly glad Legler will get more run. He is great.
aug 28, 2025, 5:11 pm • 0 0 • view
For someone who really doesn’t care that much about this, you sure are spending a lot of time and space on this.
aug 28, 2025, 5:36 pm • 0 0 • view
...and what I mean by rising "star" for Jefferson (who I think is fine - just like Burke) is he is 15 years younger, has 5x instagram followers, and is much more present on all the "talk" shows & podcasts that ESPN produces than Burke. They clearly like him. So he stays.
aug 28, 2025, 4:53 pm • 0 0 • view
the same way russell westbrook was already a star
aug 28, 2025, 5:01 pm • 0 0 • view
I don't give a shit what the "perception" of Richard Jefferson is by ESPN. I literally had to turn the TV audio off during the Finals because he was so grating and had nothing insightful to say. Legler is great, but the idea of demoting Doris and keeping the awful Richard Jefferson is preposterous.
aug 28, 2025, 4:38 pm • 8 0 • view
So then demote Jefferson
aug 28, 2025, 4:37 pm • 1 0 • view
Legler is great. No issues there. But how come you said Burke never meshed with Jefferson and not the other way around?
aug 28, 2025, 5:11 pm • 0 0 • view
Richard Jefferson should be gone not her. She’s my favorite ❤️
aug 28, 2025, 4:42 pm • 3 0 • view
Richard Jefferson….
aug 28, 2025, 4:00 pm • 1 0 • view
thank the lord
aug 28, 2025, 4:06 pm • 0 0 • view
Fuck this! Doris is top-notch.
aug 28, 2025, 4:15 pm • 1 0 • view
She’s a phenomenal member of that team. What a terrible move.
aug 28, 2025, 4:22 pm • 1 0 • view
This is a serious downgrade.
aug 28, 2025, 3:46 pm • 11 0 • view
Jefferson is the one who shoulda been gone. He's terrible as an announcer/analyst. But he played in the NBA, did you know that? He's played in some Finals games, have you heard? Just tune into a game and you can hear him mention it again, every time.
aug 28, 2025, 4:27 pm • 5 1 • view
Was this because Trump told them to do it?
aug 28, 2025, 4:01 pm • 2 0 • view
I don’t get why ESPN insists on 3-person broadcasts. It becomes less about commentating on the game and more about a race to see who can fill as much airtime as possible with their hot takes.
aug 28, 2025, 4:00 pm • 55 1 • view
BIG AGREE it is the most distracting thing ever
aug 28, 2025, 4:06 pm • 4 0 • view
Also too much banter imo
aug 28, 2025, 4:36 pm • 11 0 • view
Why not dump Jefferson instead? Are they going for stupid banter? That's not really Legler's thing, even though it is Jefferson's.
aug 28, 2025, 5:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Jefferson is the nasally boring guy right?
aug 28, 2025, 5:17 pm • 1 0 • view
doris is the best, hope to see her on another network.
aug 28, 2025, 3:49 pm • 36 0 • view
One little problem with that- they waiting until AFTER Amazon & NBC filled out their positions to make the move official. Even though Burke still has a year on her deal, that was probably deliberate and the article states that ESPN wants a contract extension. Nasty work.
aug 28, 2025, 4:10 pm • 27 1 • view
Oh no! I love Doris! She's so knowledgeable! What a slap in the face!
aug 28, 2025, 4:52 pm • 6 0 • view
WTH. Ridiculous.
aug 28, 2025, 5:12 pm • 1 0 • view
👏
aug 28, 2025, 3:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Richard Jefferson suuuuucks
aug 28, 2025, 4:52 pm • 7 0 • view
Doris Burke>Richard Jefferson
aug 28, 2025, 3:44 pm • 117 2 • view
Literally every human and talking bird species is better than Richard Jefferson
aug 28, 2025, 4:03 pm • 44 2 • view
she is not
aug 28, 2025, 4:04 pm • 2 0 • view
Should have made him a ref and spared us all.
aug 28, 2025, 4:58 pm • 0 0 • view
Bad move, DB's knowledge and smooth delivery are unique and unmatched.
aug 28, 2025, 5:49 pm • 0 0 • view
Uhmn,…BOOOOOOOOH!! Ad nauseum. Why not just,..throw a dildo at her? Sheesh. MAGA Making Americans Ghastly (as shit)Again! 👊🇺🇸💩
aug 28, 2025, 4:56 pm • 1 0 • view
BOOOOOOO. Doris is so knowledgeable, great commentary, has been great for years. And I do not understand the comments criticizing her voice. She speaks in a rather low register, clearly and calmly and her comments are incisive. Terrible decision
aug 28, 2025, 5:26 pm • 3 0 • view
So fucking stupid
aug 28, 2025, 3:52 pm • 1 0 • view
Who gives a F#ck! Where are the EPSTEIN FILES!
aug 28, 2025, 8:00 pm • 0 0 • view
Meanwhile, Chris Collinsworth inexplicably remains on Sunday Night Football.
aug 28, 2025, 7:53 pm • 0 0 • view
The real question is knowing what channel/streaming service the games are on EACH day… ratings disaster!
aug 28, 2025, 3:55 pm • 1 0 • view
I love Doris but I like more analysis other than “isn’t he great!”….Legler is an upgrade…I usually mute my tv but might listen to Legler and Breen…
aug 29, 2025, 12:17 am • 0 0 • view
Trump involved in this?
aug 28, 2025, 4:22 pm • 13 0 • view
Breen ordered the Code Red
aug 28, 2025, 7:51 pm • 0 0 • view
NBA is beginning to piss me off!
aug 28, 2025, 4:42 pm • 1 0 • view
Another reason to take up a hobby that benefits you or volunteer in your community to serve, either in elections or common benefit organizations
aug 28, 2025, 4:07 pm • 1 0 • view
aug 28, 2025, 4:29 pm • 1 0 • view
This is Dumb. Doris is amazing
aug 28, 2025, 4:20 pm • 2 0 • view
They should have replaced RJ with Legler. I loved Doris, but she started to lean way more narrativey than analysis (I suspect from boss's prodding to make it palatable to the casuals) and it got annoying.
aug 28, 2025, 4:11 pm • 1 0 • view
Demote em all!
aug 28, 2025, 5:05 pm • 1 0 • view
Tim Legler is great, imo. Richard Jefferson though……
aug 28, 2025, 3:47 pm • 7 0 • view
Terrible stupid move. Don’t demote Doris - she’s phenomenal.
aug 28, 2025, 3:48 pm • 63 0 • view
This became completely unserious once the "and Richard Jefferson" was said
aug 28, 2025, 3:44 pm • 103 1 • view
Booooooo! Booooooo!
aug 28, 2025, 3:53 pm • 1 0 • view
This is great news. Now just demote Richard Jefferson and we'll really be cooking.
aug 28, 2025, 4:08 pm • 2 0 • view
They're almost all terrible, every goddamned one. I'd love an article that explains the need to fill every second with talk. JUST CALL THE GAME! If every game, everywhere, could be called by Ryan Ruocco, I'd be the happiest girl ever. 'Til then, I'll keep watching the no-commentary games on ESPN3.
aug 28, 2025, 5:27 pm • 1 0 • view
Did Trump request it?
aug 28, 2025, 4:40 pm • 3 0 • view
Legler is a clear upgrade, sticking with Jefferson is a problem, he stinks.
aug 28, 2025, 3:54 pm • 13 0 • view
It’s a major shakeup at ABC/ESPN, where Doris Burke is being replaced by Tim Legler on the NBA Finals broadcast team. Legler will now work alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson, marking a notable change in the lineup.
aug 28, 2025, 3:48 pm • 1 0 • view
@espn.com that SUCKS.
aug 28, 2025, 6:52 pm • 0 0 • view
This will go over well I'm sure
aug 28, 2025, 4:20 pm • 1 0 • view
It was so disappointing to see Doris waste an amazing opportunity. I always thought she was talented but since she became a regular commentator she just lost her analytical eye and her passion for the game. It was hard watching her denigrate the game every night. Hopefully she can get that back now
aug 28, 2025, 5:37 pm • 0 0 • view