In an article about what Charles Barkley might be worth on the open market should TNT lose its partnership with the NBA; Puck’s Dylan Byers drops some additional information on who he is hearing might fill play-by-play and other roles should NBC and Amazon gain the rights. Byers reports Mike Tirico is “widely expected” to be NBC’s lead play-by-play announcer, with Noah Eagle “likely” to lead the second team.
Neither would be a big surprise given their current roles within NBC Sports. Some other names Byers mentions are Allie LaForce, who he says the network is likely to “make an aggressive play for,” and Zora Stephenson, who currently calls women’s college basketball games on Peacock.
In another rather interesting NBC note, Byers writes, “One thing that’s not clear is where Maria Taylor might fit into NBC’s plans. One less-than-well-kept secret is that the Football Night in America host, who joined the network from ESPN in 2020, is not universally loved inside NBC Sports.”
Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green and Grant Hill are mentioned as names that could be in the mix for analyst roles and sources have told Byers that Kenny Smith could be an odd man out if a network is to pay Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal what they might command at a new home if they went together.
As for Amazon, Ian Eagle is mentioned as someone they have their eye on for a No. 1 play-by-play announcer and Byers says in his report, Kevin Harlan would be someone else Amazon may have on their wish list.
Speculation has run rampant about who the NBA will partner with after next season for its media rights. It is believed that Disney/ESPN, Comcast/NBC and Amazon’s Prime Video have the framework of deals in place, however Warner Bros. Discovery/TNT Sports has a right to match in their current agreement. Once the NBA signs official agreements, WBD would have five days to match, although the definition of match and which offer it can match may end up being decided in a courtroom.
