NBA fans tuning in for games on ESPN this season won't be hearing Jeff Van Gundy's voice.
The network let go of the former Knicks and Rockets coach earlier this year as part of a round of layoffs. ESPN also laid off Mark Jackson, who had served as an analyst alongside Van Gundy and play-by-play announcer Mike Breen.
The team of Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy called 15 NBA Finals together, including the 2023 series between the Heat and Nuggets.
"It's sad because we really thought we had something special and... we were able to do it a lot longer than anybody ever did," Breen told the New York Post's Andrew Marchand. "It's something we'll all treasure, but we just wish it was a little bit longer.
"You don't expect it, because it was such a great team and to have it completely broken up was a surprise."
Why did ESPN decide to dismiss Van Gundy and break up a broadcast crew with so much chemistry and experience?
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What happened to Jeff Van Gundy?
Marchand reported in late June that ESPN was letting go of around 20 on-air personalities in order to save millions of dollars amid pressure from its parent company, Disney. Van Gundy was one of the cuts, ending a 16-year run with the network.
ESPN didn't specifically comment on Van Gundy's exit, but it did release a statement addressing the layoffs.
"Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun," the statement said. "This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead.
"This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth."
While Van Gundy's salary played a role, there may have been other factors in play. Marchand noted that the NBA "expressed disappointment" in Van Gundy's criticism of the league and its officiating, though it never pushed ESPN to make a change. ESPN executives also grew "wary of [Van Gundy's] desire to coach again."
Who will replace Jeff Van Gundy at ESPN?
ESPN announced on Aug. 14 that longtime analyst Doris Burke and former NBA player and coach Doc Rivers will replace Jackson and Van Gundy as the lead NBA analysts. Breen will stay on board as the lead play-by-play announcer.
In addition to regular season coverage, Breen, Burke and Rivers will call games during the NBA Finals, Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Playoffs. ESPN Head of Event and Studio Production David Roberts explained why he believes the new trio will hit the ground running.
"Mike has worked with Doris over the past decade or more, and Doris has proven herself as one of the top analysts covering the NBA for quite some time. I'm looking forward to seeing her and the chemistry she already has with Doc Rivers," Roberts said. "They're close friends and they have a mutual respect for one another, both professionally and personally, and those are key ingredients to just having the kind of chemistry you have to have on any team."
ESPN also established a second core broadcast team of Ryan Ruocco, Richard Jefferson and JJ Redick.
Here is the network's full game lineup:
- Play-by-play: Mike Breen, Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch
- Analysts: Doris Burke, Doc Rivers, JJ Redick, Richard Jefferson, Hubie Brown, Bob Myers
- Reporters: Lisa Salters, Cassidy Hubbarth, Monica McNutt, Katie George, Rosalyn Gold-Onwude, Jorge Sedano
