ESPN demotes Doris Burke from top NBA booth, cites balance and new partnership strategy

In August, ESPN moved Doris Burke from the network’s top NBA broadcast booth as part of a broader on-air reshuffle designed to improve the presentation of the league’s biggest games. The network named Tim Legler to join the top team and reassigned Burke to the No. 2 crew led by play-by-play commentator Dave Pasch, while also announcing a multi-year extension for Burke on the same day.

The arrangement aims to ensure the biggest games are covered with a balance of expertise and chemistry across the analyst group, including a three-person top team that would call conference finals and the Finals. Burke’s new role places her on high-profile regular-season games as well as meaningful postseason assignments, but with a different partner on the mic.

I think it was the right decision because we were still searching for the perfect combination, Burke Magnus, ESPN’s president of content, said in a recent discussion with The Athletic’s Richard Deitsch, describing the rationale behind the move. “There was no coincidence that we extended her at the same time we were putting her with a new partner.” Magnus noted that Burke is “an A-plus-plus human being” and emphasized that the decision was about optimizing the on-air balance rather than a lack of performance.

We’re talking about a player in a three-person top team who will be calling big games, meaningful games in her new circumstance relative to the top team. Burke will now work with Dave Pasch on the No. 2 NBA team, with the goal of giving her additional opportunities to showcase her calling ability while aligning with a play-by-play voice who can complement her style. The production leadership, including Tim Corrigan and Mike McQuade, weighed the fit as part of a broader strategy to present the league’s marquee games in the strongest possible light.

Burke, a 60-year-old former standout from New Jersey, has been a trailblazing voice on ESPN’s biggest stage since stepping in during the 2023 offseason after Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were among ESPN’s layoffs. She has since worked in a variety of configurations, including a stint with Doc Rivers, followed by JJ Redick and Richard Jefferson before Legler’s arrival. The current reshuffle is the latest shift reflecting ESPN’s ongoing evaluation of how best to deploy its on-air talent for the league’s calendar.

Tim Legler, a longtime ESPN analyst and a former 3-point specialist in the NBA, has been a steady presence on studio programming since his retirement. Magnus praised Legler’s work and his readiness to handle top-game responsibilities as part of the top team. “Tim is great. What a story—twenty-five years plus at ESPN has done games, has done studio, has been with Scott Van Pelt on ‘SportsCenter,’ highly respected basketball mind, great communicator. I guess a little underappreciated over the years … by us. I think he had a ton of fans out there in NBA circles, both fans and professionals alike. So we’re excited to see him get a crack at being a part of this top team, and he’s earned it,” Magnus said.

The decision is framed as a strategic adjustment to maximize the presentation of the league’s biggest competitions, including ongoing deliberations about which broadcast team will call the Finals. ESPN has stressed the importance of continuity and chemistry in its top booth as it schedules a slate heavy with marquee matchups throughout the postseason. Burke’s role remains integral to ESPN’s coverage, even as she integrates into the No. 2 team with Pasch.

As the 2025-26 season approaches, the reshuffle will test how well a high-profile broadcast setup performs when its components are realigned. The network has shown a willingness to adapt its on-air lineups in pursuit of the strongest possible product for fans. Burke’s continued presence on ESPN’s NBA slate signals that the network intends to keep her influence in the mix while leveraging the improved balance among its top commentators.