Largest Audience for NBA Playoffs on ESPN and ABC since 2011 through Five Games
Special Broadcast Open Featuring Acclaimed Recording Artist J. Cole
Thirty-five ESPN Commentators to Contribute to this Weekend’s Coverage
Entering its second weekend of NBA Playoffs coverage, ESPN and ABC’s viewership is off to its best start in seven years (since 2011). Through five games, ESPN and ABC combined to generate an average of 4,045,000 viewers during opening weekend, up five percent year over year.
Special broadcast open:
ESPN has teamed up with acclaimed recording artist and Grammy Award-winner J. Cole for a special broadcast open during the early rounds of the NBA Playoffs. It will air across ESPN and ABC telecast.
Thirty-five ESPN commentators will contribute to this weekend’s NBA Playoffs game and studio coverage across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes.
Commentator highlights:
- Deep roster of accomplished, veteran women to provide coverage this weekend, including, Michelle Beadle, Doris Burke, Cassidy Hubbarth, Kara Lawson, Rachel Nichols and Lisa Salters.
- Kara Lawson to serve as game analyst for her first NBA Playoffs telecast.
- Doris Burke, the first woman to serve as a full-time national NBA game analyst, will call two playoff games this weekend.
- Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson – the longest-tenured NBA Finals broadcast team – to call two games with Lisa Salters as the reporter.
- Two NBA Finals M.V.P.’s – Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce – are contributing to coverage.
- Michelle Beadle, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce and Jalen Rose will team up for two editions of NBA Countdown from ESPN’s New York Seaport District Studios.
- Four former NBA head coaches to contribute game analysis – Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Hubie Brown and J. Carlesimo.
- ESPN officiating expert Steve Javie will provide analysis from the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, N.J. for telecasts throughout the weekend.
- Adam Amin will provide play-by-play for games on both ESPN and on ESPN Radio.
- The team of Mark Jones, Hubie Brown and Cassidy Hubbarth to call both Boston Celtics-Milwaukee Bucks telecasts.
- ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter to serve as reporter for his first NBA Playoffs telecast.
Telecast schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Commentators | Platform(s) |
| Fri, Apr. 20 | 3 p.m. | The Jump | Rachel Nichols, Tracy McGrady, Amin Elhassan, Michael Wilbon | ESPN,
ESPN App |
| 7 p.m. | Game 3: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ESPN: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jon Barry
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales |
ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes | |
| 8 p.m. | Game 3: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | Adam Amin, P.J. Carlesimo, Jorge Sedano | ESPN2, ESPN App | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 3: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ESPN: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Deportes: Leo Montero & Fabricio Oberto |
ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sat, Apr. 21 | 7 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | Michelle Beadle, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Jalen Rose | ESPN, ESPN App |
| 7:30 p.m. | Game 3: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ESPN: Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Jorge Sedano
ESPN Radio: Adam Amin, Jon Barry |
ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes | |
| 10 p.m. | Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ESPN: Ryan Ruocco, Kara Lawson, Adam Schefter
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales |
ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sun, Apr. 22 | 12:30 p.m. | NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless | Michelle Beadle, Chauncey Billups, Paul Pierce, Jalen Rose | ABC |
| 1 p.m. | Game 4: Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ABC: Mark Jones, Hubie Brown, Cassidy Hubbarth
ESPN Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jim Spanarkel
ESPN Deportes: Fernando Alvarez & Pablo Viruega |
ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes | |
| 3:30 p.m. | Game 4: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs telecast presented by Mountain Dew Kickstart | ABC: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley, P.J. Carlesimo
ESPN Deportes: Alvaro Martin & Carlos Morales |
ABC, ESPN App, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes |
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