While NBC is getting much of the NBA media attention with a new vibe and throwback programming, it is NBA TV that is churning out the best pro hoops content this season. In addition to live games, shows like Basketcast, NBA Shot Clock, NBA Playback, and specialized fare like Plays of the Month and Dunks of the Month give hardcourt mavens some excellent options.
Perhaps the best of the NBA TV lineup is The Association. This nightly program provides analysis and live look-ins to NBA game action. Normally presented in a three-hour format, the show also serves as a prelude to the network’s live game coverage.
Entitled The Association: Pregame, it includes everything from highlights to opinion, statistics, and historical reflections. NBA TV promotes The Association as a program that celebrates the game, players, and culture of the NBA, aiming to both inform and entertain viewers with news and storylines. In both its pregame and postgame formats, The Association is a fast-paced hodgepodge, moving from topic to topic and story to story.
This past Monday’s edition of The Association: Pregame previewed the Eastern Conference matchup featuring the Boston Celtics at the Milwaukee Bucks. The game marked the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Milwaukee lineup.
Mike Yam sat in the host seat with ex-NBA stars Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas as analysts. Both played for several teams throughout their respective pro careers and bring a lot of concrete know-how.
What immediately struck me about The Association: Pregame was the colorful and casual set. Yam occupies a comfortable chair, while Gay and Thomas sit on a couch with a couple of modernized coffee tables in front of them. The backdrop resembles a man cave or sports den, with sports memorabilia and photos filling the shelves. The attire is casual, falling in line with many programs trying to attract younger viewers.
Let’s take a moment to talk about Yam, who is fast developing into one of the best and most versatile hosts in sports television. Yam’s greatest strength is moderating his tone and drama. He is terrific at tempering excitement with realism. In an understated fashion, he is well prepared, fun to watch, and really good at setting up his analysts with leading questions. His work on NFL Network is similarly notable.
This episode of The Association: Pregame started with real talk about Antetokounmpo coming back from an injury that caused him to miss the previous 15 games. The discussion was accompanied by live video of Antetokounmpo in warmups from Milwaukee.
From there, the show moved to a rundown of the Top 10 plays from the previous night’s games. As Yam, Gay, and Thomas narrated highlights, the lower-third graphics showed the NBA schedule for Monday night, including game odds provided by FanDuel.
The Top 10 segment was entertaining, with fast-moving highlights and gripping action. Yam did a great job with his relaxed narration. Leaving plenty of open space for Gay and Thomas to give their views on the plays.
Coming out of the Top 10 segment, a graphic showed the current playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Gay said Antetokounmpo’s return could help the Bucks at least qualify for the play-in tournament at the end of the regular season.
While Gay is a rapidly developing TV presence, Thomas is a relative neophyte.
The 12-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star with the Celtics appears quite relaxed on television. Maybe even a little too relaxed. The man they called “IT” was a bundle of energy as a player. I’d like to see him bring some of that same enthusiasm to the broadcast.
Still, I enjoyed his commentary and can see him really growing as an analyst.
I like the variety of The Association: Pregame. Viewers move from highlights to commentary to coaches’ press conferences. Yam shifted the discussion to the Celtics while a graphic asked how expectations of the team will change if Jayson Tatum returns this season from a torn Achilles injury. The six-time All-Star suffered the injury last May. But has made a remarkable recovery and is on the brink of returning.
Thomas made a good point that despite Tatum’s hard work, the NBA at this time of year is quite physical, and Tatum’s body will have to adjust to that. He also reflected on injuries he suffered as a player in his late 20s while trying to return. Thomas cautioned that he wants Tatum to be 100% healthy and not rush back.
The trio then looked back on the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 117-108 victory over the Nuggets the day before. The victory highlighted by an impressive showing from Anthony Edwards: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocked shots.
Gay and Thomas discussed Edwards’ scoring prowess but also gave credit to the players around the superstar. Both agreed the Timberwolves are definitely a threat to make the Finals.
The Association: Pregame does a nice job of moving the show away from the studio. Whether it is sound from a coach or player, pregame warmup video, game highlights, or even a graphic, the visual variety on the show is excellent. Yam is at the controls like Captain Kirk in the Starship Enterprise bridge command center.
As the show continued, a timer counted down the minutes to the Boston-Milwaukee matchup. Lower-third graphics also previewed upcoming national games not only on NBA TV, but on other networks as well.
Coming back from one of the breaks, the production staff strung together speedy highlights of Gay as a player, leading into a segment called Rudy’s Rim Rockers. Gay returned from the highlights in standup mode, flanked by Yam and Thomas. He jokingly called the segment, “The most electrifying segment in sports entertainment.”
This section of the show underscores the never-ending fan and media fascination with NBA dunks.
His number three rim rocker was Jonathan Kuminga of the Hawks flying high over the Portland Trail Blazers for a lefty slam. As he narrated the dunks, Gay not only called attention to the power but also the athleticism and creativity of the athletes.
His number two dunk came from the game between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. He chose Victor Wembanyama’s long-armed jam over OG Anunoby. The number one Rim Rocker for Gay was Denver’s Jamal Murray taking it to the house and posterizing Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves.
This was a fun and fluffy segment, but I did like Gay’s commentary as he truly analyzed each play.
In closing the program, Yam brought the show full circle, revisiting Antetokounmpo’s return from injury and mentioning that Jaylen Brown would not be playing for the Celtics. He asked a direct question to Gay about the realistic expectations for Antetokounmpo. Gay responded that he expects the full dose of Antetokounmpo.
Yam then asked Thomas whom he thinks will step up for the Celtics in Brown’s absence. Thomas did not hesitate, saying he has two players in mind: Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic.
The Association: Pregame served as a tremendous lead-in to NBA action that night. With fluid variety and pinpoint commentary, it is truly worthy of All-NBA TV recognition.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Molori is a weekly columnist for Barrett Sports Media. He has previously contributed to ESPNW, Patriots Football Weekly, Golf Content Network, Methuen Life Magazine, and wrote a syndicated Media Blitz column in the New England region, which was published by numerous outlets including The Boston Metro, Providence Journal, Lowell Sun, and the Eagle-Tribune. His career also includes fourteen years in television as a News and Sports Reporter, Host, Producer working for Continental Cablevision, MediaOne, and AT&T. He can be reached on Twitter @MoloriMedia.
