ESPN demotes Doris Burke from top NBA booth as executives defend lineup shift

ESPN has demoted Doris Burke from the network’s top NBA broadcast booth and installed Tim Legler on the network’s top team, with Burke moving to the No. 2 unit alongside Dave Pasch for the coming season. The change, announced the same day Burke received a multi-year extension, is part of ESPN’s ongoing effort to optimize its broadcast chemistry for the league’s biggest games, including the Conference Finals and Finals, officials said in a recent podcast with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch.

ESPN executive Burke Magnus described the move as a strategic effort to assemble the best possible three-person top team for marquee games, while recognizing Burke’s substantial contributions. He noted that the extension timing aligned with moving her into a different partner arrangement to maximize the presentation of major broadcasts. [1]

Burke spent two seasons on ESPN’s top booth alongside Mike Breen and a rotating group of analysts, most recently Richard Jefferson, before Legler was named to fill Burke’s previous role on that unit for the upcoming season. In the new structure Burke will devote her expertise to big regular-season games and selected postseason assignments on the No. 2 team with Pasch, while Legler becomes part of the top crew tasked with calling Finals and Conference Finals.

Magnus emphasized that the No. 2 team will still handle a heavy schedule, ensuring a robust lineup across the season. He described the shift as a reflection of balance and depth across the network’s NBA broadcast teams and a belief that the three-person top team will provide the strongest presentation for the league’s biggest games.

Legler, a former 3-point specialist who has spent more than two decades at ESPN, was praised by Magnus as a credible and respected voice who has earned his chance to be part of the top team. The company noted Legler’s extensive experience in games and studio work and his long association with ESPN personalities.

The decision follows a broader stream of personnel changes at ESPN after the 2023 layoff wave that affected Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. Burke initially stepped in as a continuity option in the wake of those cuts and cycled through roles, including a pairing with Rivers and Jefferson in various combinations. The latest reshuffle aligns with ESPN’s ongoing approach to aligning talent with broadcast responsibilities to maximize big-game viewing experiences.

In outlining the plan, Magnus cited the network’s production leadership, including Tim Corrigan and Mike McQuade, whose assessment of scheduling and assignment helped shape the three-person top team and the No. 2 configuration. The goal, he said, is to deliver the best possible presentation of the league’s biggest moments while maintaining strong coverage across the regular season.

As the NBA season approaches, ESPN will rely on Breen and Legler to anchor the top team, while Burke and Pasch handle important games on the No. 2 crew. Burke’s extension underscores ESPN’s commitment to keeping its most recognizable voices in the mix even as the company experiments with lineup changes designed to maximize impact in the playoffs.