When ESPN announced its 2024-25 NBA season broadcasting plans, the successor to J.J. Redick was not immediately clear. The initial plan was a work in progress, featuring a rotating lineup of analysts such as Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and longtime college basketball analyst Jay Bilas filling in throughout the year. However, as the postseason unfolds, the roles are starting to solidify.
In February, Richard Jefferson joined Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ESPN’s primary NBA broadcast team for the remainder of the season (and postseason). According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported, Jefferson is set to call the NBA Finals, marking his first appearance in that role following four Finals appearances as a player. Simultaneously, Jay Bilas will be making his NBA playoff broadcasting debut this Saturday night when the Lakers face the Timberwolves in ABC’s primetime slot, joined by Mark Jones and Jorge Sedano in a rare crossover from college basketball to the NBA postseason.
As for the lead team, Breen, Burke, and Jefferson will cover the Knicks-Pistons game on Saturday and the Magic-Celtics matchup on Sunday, reflecting last season’s top team’s early-round assignments.
Jay Bilas will be calling Saturday’s ABC primetime Timberwolves-Lakers playoff game alongside Mark Jones. Bilas’ first NBA playoff assignment.
ESPN/ABC’s lead team of Breen and co. will do Knicks on Saturday, Celtics on Sunday — just like last year.
— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) April 16, 2025
Then there’s Bilas. The 61-year-old is somewhat of a wild card. He has been one of ESPN’s most authoritative voices in college basketball for two decades, helming College GameDay, calling key matchups, and leading the network’s NBA Draft coverage. This season, he quietly made several appearances on NBA broadcasts—enough to dip his toe in but not enough to indicate a full transition. Despite long possessing the basketball IQ and on-air presence for the jump, his contributions to ESPN’s NBA coverage remained limited, with Marchand noting that Bilas was seen as a “longshot” for a significant role on the NBA team.
For Bilas, this weekend signifies a new chapter; after years of dominating March, he finally gets a taste of April.
