In the wake of his retirement as a player, six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin is said to be drawing significant interest not from NBA teams but from the league’s new television partners. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Griffin is in talks with Amazon Prime Video about a role as an analyst on their NBA coverage, with NBC and ESPN also believed to be interested in the former Clippers star.
Amazon and NBC aren’t currently airing NBA games, but will begin to do so in 2025/26, when the league’s new media rights deal takes effect, and will need to fill out their broadcast teams with both game and studio analysts. One source suggests to McCarthy that Griffin, who has an engaging personality and tried his hand at stand-up comedy during his playing days, is a candidate to become “the face” of Amazon’s NBA coverage.
Ryan Glasspiegel of The New York Post recently reported that veteran play-by-play broadcaster Ian Eagle, who calls NBA games for TNT and YES Network, is in serious talks to join Amazon for its NBA coverage. Mike Tirico and Ian’s son Noah Eagle are expected to be the top two play-by-play broadcasters for NBC’s NBA coverage, per Glasspiegel.
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- In an interesting story for The Associated Press, Tim Reynolds takes a closer look at the average shelf life for an NBA head coach, noting that 15 of the league’s 30 coaches are entering either their first, second, or third year with their respective clubs. “That’s a sobering reality of this profession,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, the NBA’s second longest-tenured head coach. “It bums me out when I hear that stat because there are a lot of really talented coaches that if they had the same type of structure and continuity and belief from (their teams) … there could be a lot more coaches able to do what I’m able to do here (in Miami).”
- Celtics star Jayson Tatum has informally agreed to join a bid to bring a WNBA franchise to his home city of St. Louis, reports Jacob Feldman of Sportico. Billionaires Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffman are heading up the prospective ownership group, according to Feldman, who notes that NBA players are permitted to own up to a 4% stake in a WNBA franchise.
- A second gambler has admitted to his role in the Jontay Porter betting scheme, pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, per an Associated Press report. The Pennsylvania man, Mahmud Mollah, will be sentenced on May 2 in federal court. A wide range of sentences are possible, from a no-jail punishment to 20 years in prison.
I’d love to see Barkley go & Blake take his place in basketball media as basically the anti-Barkley. Same with DWade hopefully taking Reggie Miller’s spot. And Ian Eagle is easily top3 as far as play by play guys, if not #1.
I’d keep Chuck and dump Shaq for Blake. Def with you on Wade for Miller though.
@Sankara strong agree on all of this
Barkley and Shaq made the TNT “Inside the NBA” while providing some of the best work later on. Inside the NBA was plain and boring the first few years. Then they released Charles and Shaq personalities without too much restrictions. It was great for them and the show. I wish Shaq and Charles would make a comeback with Ernie on Amazon. Getting majority of that gang back together for a couple of seasons, would be great for Amazon as they are attempting to draw sports enthusiasts to their rapidly growing network. Then hand the reins over to the next generation of controversial former players.
I am not sure if Shaq would go back behind the booth though. I believe when TNT lost their rights to televised games, Shaq just wanted to do his own thing. I really wish he would get onboard with a small run with Charles, Ernie, and company. Just to see those guys together again for a few years, would be great again. I miss Inside the NBA and that crew
Barkley was on TNT for years when Shaq was still playing. Barkley and Kenny built that program. They were top rated for years.
Shaq jumped on board a winning horse.
Ernie is signed to TNT for the long term and he does NCAA hoops and PGA.
Same with Chuck – plus he does (snicker) hockey
Barkley has an opt out clause, I’m not sure about Ernie.