Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics tips off today, June 6th, at 8:30 p.m. ET. Here is a full breakdown of the NBA Finals schedule for the remaining games and their respective dates, times, and channels.
This year’s anticipated Finals will be broadcast by ESPN on ABC. With the departures of Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy last summer, ESPN has a new Finals broadcast team. However, they are still very familiar names in what should be an insightful and entertaining group.
Who are the announcers for the 2024 NBA Finals?
Although Jackson and Van Gundy are both gone, Mike Breen, the seasoned play-by-play announcer and lead voice for NBA on ESPN and ABC, remains. Breen’s first NBA Finals call was in 2006, the Miami Heat versus the Dallas Mavericks, and he’s been doing it at a high level ever since.
A familiar name in a new role, Doris Burke, will join Breen in the booth to help fill the void Jackson and Van Gundy left. Burke is a veteran within ESPN, having worked with them since 1991. She started working as a sideline reporter in 2003. The sideline reporter now is Lisa Salters, returning for her third season.
Breen and Salters are returning to their respective positions, with Burke taking on an increased role in the booth. Regarding their time at ESPN, the other name in the booth is much newer.
JJ Redick will join Breen and Burke in the booth
The original plan was to have Doc Rivers be in the booth, but that all changed after accepting the Milwaukee Bucks head coaching job mid-season. Rivers replaced Adrian Griffin, who was fired 43 games into the season despite the Bucks having the second-best record in the league at 30-13. ESPN will now have podcaster and retired player JJ Redick in the booth.
Redick has been an extremely hot topic lately. Rumors were swirling surrounding potential mutual interest between Redick and the Los Angeles Lakers for the head coaching vacancy. Redick appeared to be the front-runner to be the new head coach of the historic franchise. However, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Lakers are now reportedly targeting Dan Hurley. Hurley is the head coach of UConn men's basketball, which has won back-to-back NCAA national championships.
Regardless of what happens with the Lakers, Redick still has a promising career around the NBA in whatever role that may ultimately be. Redick is relatively inexperienced as a media member but extremely knowledgeable and provides fascinating insight from a former player's perspective.
While there's a new look to the NBA Finals broadcast team, they are all highly capable. The important question is, will we hear Mike Breen's rare "double bang" call in this year's Finals?