A new era begins for ESPN this upcoming week, as NBA analyst Tim Legler officially joins the network’s top broadcast crew, alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson. Legler replaces Doris Burke, who will be working alongside Dave Pasch on ESPN’s no. 2 broadcast team.
While much has been made about the addition of Inside The NBA to ESPN’s roster, the promotion of Tim Legler will also be a big piece to the network’s coverage.
Tim Legler Gets Big ESPN Break
Legler first joined the network in 2000, appearing on programs such as NBA Shootaround, NBA Fastbreak, First Take, NBA Coast to Coast, and SportsCenter. His breakthrough performance came by way of the postgame editions of SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt.
This past season, Legler finally got the opportunity to call games alongside Pasch and delivered a breakout performance. With mixed-reviews of Burke’s time on the network’s top broadcast crew over the past two seasons, this summer, the network announced Legler’s promotion to replace Burke, which includes calling the NBA Finals next June.
It was a long, but rewarding road for Legler to reach this point. He made an appearance on the The Marchand Sports Media Podcast this week talking about his new role stating, “I think one of the reasons I’m still here and now getting ready to take on the pinnacle of my career with this opportunity is because, no matter how frustrated I would get at times over the years in feeling like I would have loved to get a crack at that or this opportunity or whatever it may be, my pride and my approach and how much I loved watching the games never changed.”
He added, “I just tried to show up every day and be consistent and deliver and have people hopefully find something in what I was doing that made them smarter. That’s really what my approach always was. And that was the same last summer, and it’s the same today, and it will be the same when I go on-air for the first time with Mike (Breen) and Richard (Jefferson).”
Legler is shining already
Although he hasn’t broadcast a game yet with the top crew yet, he’s already making his in-depth analysis known. Legler did two sit-down segments on ESPN’s X account this week, breaking down the game with Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Reddick, as well as Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers, who also previously worked on ESPN’s top broadcast team.
Lakers coach JJ Redick sits down with @legsespn for another episode of Coaches Corner 🏀 pic.twitter.com/iH7RXmY8Zv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 15, 2025
Legler’s addition to the top crew with Breen and Jefferson is the latest experiment for ESPN’s NBA coverage. The network has struggled to find its footing since the departures of Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in 2023.
Inside The NBA’s debut
Next week, Legler will make his debut on ESPN’s lead broadcast team for the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks matchup on Wednesday, October 22. It will be a big night for the network, as Inside The NBA also makes their ESPN debut.
Main image credit: Wikimedia commons
