ESPN lead NBA analyst Doris Burke is no stranger to making history.
Long before Burke was named the first woman to serve as television analyst for the NBA Finals, she was making history during her playing career, which began in New Jersey.
Born in 1965, the prime of Burke's playing career came over a decade before the WNBA's inception, meaning the peak of her powers was felt during her time as a college standout.
Learn more about the playing career of Burke, which includes numerous records, honors and awards.
How good was Doris Burke at basketball?
The simple answer is that Doris Burke (neé Sable) was very good during her basketball career. At a deeper level, there are a number of facts to support that notion.
A native of Manasquan, N.J., Burke was a point guard who amassed 1,384 points over the course of her high school career. During her senior year in 1983, Burke led Manasquan High School to an NJ Shore Conference Tournament title.
Burke committed to play collegiately for the Providence College Lady Friars, a team fresh off of earning a share of the Big East regular season title in 1983.
As a freshman, Burke didn't waste time making her mark at Providence, earning a selection to the Big East All-Rookie Team while the Lady Friars posted a 19-7 record, including a 5-3 mark in conference play. After the team took a step back in Burke's sophomore year, she turned in the best seasons of her college career as a junior and senior.
During the 1985-86 season, Burke earned Second Team All-Big East honors while Providence posted a 24-6 record on the season, including a 14-2 mark in conference play. Burke helped lead Providence to its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth, as the Lady Friars earned a 9 seed in the East regional.
As a senior, Burke earned First Team All-Big East honors as Providence posted a 23-9 mark on the season and a 12-4 record in conference play. In addition to conference honors, Burke was named to KODAK's District I All-America Team while Providence earned a fourth-place finish in the Women's NIT.
Burke finished her college career with averages of 12.1 points and 5.3 assists per game. At the time of her graduation, she was the school's all-time assists leader with 602 assists, though the record has since been broken.
In 1999, Burke was inducted into Providence College's Friar Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2017, she had her jersey retired by the program.
Doris Burke college stats, accolades
- 12.1 points per game
- 5.3 assists per game
- 1,372 total points
- 602 total assists
- 87 consecutive starts from 1984-87
- 1984 Big East All-Rookie Team
- Two-time All-Big East
- 1986-87 Big East assists leader
- 1987 Providence College Co-Female Athlete of the Year
- 1987 KODAK District I All-American
- 1987 Women's NIT All-Tournament Team
