Doris Burke is out as the voice of the NBA Finals. Per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, ABC/ESPN has decided to demote Burke after two seasons on its top NBA broadcast team. Tim Legler will slide into the chair alongside Richard Jefferson and longtime play-by-play legend Mike Breen.
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There had been whispers that Jefferson could also get bumped down, but he signed an extension in June and is sticking on the No. 1 crew. Burke, meanwhile, is still in talks on her own extension and could end up on ESPN's No. 2 team for 2025-26.
Legler, a 10-year NBA vet turned ESPN lifer, has been with the network for 25 years. He started calling games more regularly two years ago and is now getting the promotion to the league's biggest stage.
ESPN has been searching for the right mix ever since it blew up the Van Gundy-Jackson-Breen trio, a move that remains baffling to many — including Breen himself. Fans weren't shy about letting ESPN know they weren't thrilled with the replacements. Burke in particular drew plenty of criticism during her run, most recently from Thunder fans upset with how she described Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the playoffs.
Back in May, Marchand reported that both Burke and Jefferson might not be back with the top group next season. Jefferson responded with a show of solidarity, wearing a shirt backing Burke during a broadcast.
But the shakeup is official now. Legler's in. Burke's out. And ESPN's still trying to rebuild the magic that used to make its Finals broadcast appointment viewing.
