As LeBron James continues his quest for a fifth ring, millions around the United States will be eagerly tuning in to watch.
The Lakers are facing off against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. It is a rematch of the 2020 Conference Finals, in which Los Angeles triumphed in five games before ultimately going on to win the title.
But this Denver team has evolved and matured since then. Jokic is now a two-time MVP, while Jamal Murray has shown his incredible playoff performances in the bubble were no fluke. As the top team in the West this season, there's no doubt they are the favorites in this series.
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Despite entering the postseason as a No. 7 seed, the Lakers are certainly no pushovers either. James continues to defy Father Time, spearheading a surprising playoff run at the age of 38. Anthony Davis can also light anyone up when he's in the zone, making for a dangerous one-two punch.
With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, the stakes are high and the lights are bright. ESPN holds the broadcasting rights to the entire series, and they'll have their top commentary team on the call from Denver and Los Angeles.
Who is calling Lakers vs. Nuggets on ESPN?
ESPN's main announcer trio of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson will be handling commentary duties throughout the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Breen is the main play-by-play man, while Van Gundy and Jackson will be alongside providing their often quirky analysis and color commentary.
Breen has been calling games for ABC and ESPN since 2006 while also providing commentary for Knicks games on MSG Network. He is one of the most iconic voices in the league, and his signature call of "bang!" after a big shot has taken on a life of its own.
Van Gundy spent 11 years as an NBA coach with the Knicks and Rockets. He joined ESPN on a part-time basis in 2007 after he was fired in Houston before moving into broadcasting permanently shortly thereafter.
Jackson spent 17 years in the NBA as a player, earning All-Star honors with the Knicks in 1989. He moved into coaching after his retirement, spending three years as head coach of the Warriors from 2011 to 2014. After his firing, he also made the move into broadcasting, joining ESPN in 2014.
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The trio has been the inspiration for several Twitter memes, mostly poking fun at Jackson and Van Gundy's sometimes offbeat commentary featuring personal anecdotes and non sequiturs.
Lakers vs. Nuggets schedule
Here is the complete schedule for the Western Conference Finals series between Los Angeles and Denver:
| Date | Game | Time (ET)/Result | TV channel |
| May 16 | Game 1 | Nuggets 132, Lakers 126 | ESPN |
| May 18 | Game 2 | 8:30 p.m. at Nuggets | ESPN |
| May 20 | Game 3 | 8:30 p.m. at Lakers | ABC |
| May 22 | Game 4 | 8:30 p.m. at Lakers | ESPN |
| May 24 | Game 5* | 8:30 p.m. at Nuggets | ESPN |
| May 26 | Game 6* | 8:30 p.m. at Lakers | ESPN |
| May 28 | Game 7* | 8:30 p.m. at Nuggets | ESPN |
*If necessary
