ESPN Opens Its 2015 NBA Regular Season Coverage Wednesday Night

Courtesy: ESPN

The day is officially here. The 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season gets under way tonight. And beginning Wednesday, October 28th, ESPN joins in with full coverage that will take audiences straight through this weekend.

ESPN begins its coverage of the 2015 – 2016 NBA regular season Wednesday night with a Western Conference double-header. First up for the night is a matchup between the Thunder and Spurs live from Oklahoma City beginning at 8pm ET. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers follow at 10pm ET as they host Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Coverage of that game begins at 10pm ET. Mike Tirico will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by analyst Mark Jackson and reporter J.A. Adande. the T-Wolves will be playing with heavy hearts but a real purpose Wednesday night following the death of coach Flip Saunders Sunday at the age of 60. Over the course of seventeen seasons in the NBA, Saunders accrued a record of 654 – 592. This includes his time coaching in Detroit and Washington.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s double-header, ESPN will air a special one-hour edition of NBA Countdown beginning at 7pm ET. Sage Steele will anchor the broadcast and will be joined at the desk by analysts Jalen Rose and Doug Collins. As an added bonus, ESPN will broadcast rapper Missy Elliot’s new single ‘WTF (Where They From)’ during its broadcast of NBA Countdown. The song features famed performer/producer Pharrell Williams.

ESPN’s NBA coverage won’t be limited to just ESPN as it joins in all the basketball celebrations. Over on ESPN2 NBA Coast to Coast–ESPN’s NBA whiparound show–will have coverage of all of the action around the league from 8pm – 11pm ET. Cassidy Hubarth will anchor and will be joined by Ryen Rusillo, analysts Tim Legler and P.J. Carlesimo, and ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard. On Thursday morning, Cassidy Hubarth and P.J. Carlesimo will have even more coverage on NBA Tonight at 1:30am. That broadcast will be on ESPN2 as well.

After things wind down Thursday morning, ESPN will continue its NBA coverage Friday night with yet another double-header. First up Friday is an Eastern Conference matchup that sees LeBron James and the Cavs hosting James’ former teammate Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat at 7pm ET. Mike Breen will have the call for that game. He will be joined in the booth by Doris Burke for additional commentary. Stephen A. Smith will also be on hand for a special edition of SportsCenter on the Road beginning at 6pm ET. In the night’s second game, James Harden and the Houston Rockets renew their rivalry with the Golden State Warriors when the defending NBA Champions come to town. Tipoff for that game is set for 9:30pm ET. Ryan Ruocco will have the call for the game. He will be joined in the booth by Jeff Van Gundy and Chris Broussard for additional commentary. Both games will be live on ESPN. NBA Tonight will follow live at 2am ET with Cassidy Hubarth and Antonio Davis for a full wrap up of the night’s games and highlights on ESPN2. For those that prefer it, the full schedule for this week’s NBA coverage is included below.

More information on ESPN’s coverage of the NBA is available online now along with all of the latest NBA headlines at:

Website: http://espn.go.com/nba

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Networks To Offer Extensive Coverage Of The 2015 NBA Draft Presented By State Farm

Courtesy: ESPN

The 2014 – 2015 NBA season is officially in the books. But the road to the 2015 – 2016 season has already begun.

This Thursday, June 25th, ESPN will carry exclusive coverage of the 2015 NBA Draft presented by State Farm live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Coverage for this year’s draft is expected to begin at 7pm ET. This year’s broadcast marks the 13th consecutive year that ESPN has carried the draft. NBA fans that won’t be near a TV during the draft won’t have to worry about missing a minute of its coverage as they can hear all the coverage on ESPN radio and online via WatchESPN. Rece Davis will anchor this year’s broadcast. He will be joined at the desk by ESPN college basketball analyst and NBA Draft expert Jay Bilas, college basketball analyst Jay Williams, and NBA analyst Jalen Rose. Mark Kestecher will anchor ESPN Radio’s broadcast. He will be joined by Ryen Rusillo and analyst P.J. Carlesimo for additional insight and commentary.

ESPN’s coverage and insight of this year’s NBA Draft presented by State Farm doesn’t stop at the desk. ESPN NBA analyst Tom Penn will add to the network’s coverage with front office perspective while ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla have a look at international players poised to be drafted into the NBA. Heather Cox will be in the green room and Shannon Spake, new to the draft this year, will have interviews with draftees once selections are made. ESPN college basketball insiders Andy Katz and Jeff Goodman will each offer additional draft and NBA news throughout the broadcast. Brian Windhorst, Ramona Shelburne, and Chris Broussard will each be embedded with one of three teams throughout the Draft for even more coverage–Windhorst with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Shelburne with the Lakers and Broussard with the Knicks.

Leading up to the big night, ESPN2 will air a special one-hour NBA Draft preview show Wednesday night at 7pm ET. Following the Draft, ESPNU will provide Post-Draft coverage beginning at midnight. Anish Shroff, Tim Welsh, and Seth Greenberg will be on hand for commentary.

NBA fans can get more information on the ESPN networks’ coverage of the 2015 NBA Draft presented by State Farm onine at:

Website: http://www.espn.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN To Broadcast NBA Draft For 12th Consecutive Year This Thursday

Courtesy: ESPN

The NBA season is over. But that doesn’t mean that the NBA is completely done for the season. Officials with ESPN have announced that the Worldwide Leader in Sports will have exclusive coverage of the league’s annual draft this year.

The 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm will be broadcast live this Thursday, June 26^th on ESPN. It marks the twelfth consecutive year that ESPN has broadcasted the annual draft event. It also marks the second consecutive year that the draft has come live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Rece Davis will anchor the broadcast from ESPN’s main set. Davis will be joined by ESPN college basketball inside Jay Bilas and ESPN NBA analysts Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons.

Thursday’s live broadcast from the Barclays center will be preceded by ESPN’s NBA Draft Preview Show Wednesday, June 25^th at 7pm on ESPN2. ESPNU will also broadcast the ESPNU Draft Special each day this week from 4 – 5 and the ESPNU Draft Recap at midnight Thursday after the draft.

Throughout Thursday’s broadcast of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, audiences will get extra in-depth analysis from ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla and ESPN NBA analyst Tom Penn. Fran Fraschilla will offer insights on international prospects. Jeff Goodman, Heather Cox, Chris Broussard, Andy Katz and Jay Williams will each have reports and interviews. Marc Kestecher will anchor ESPN Radio’s simulcast of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm. Analysts P.J. Carlesimo and Ryen Rusillo will offer extra commentary for the broadcast.

More information on Thursday’s coverage of the 2014 NBA Draft presented by State Farm is available online at http://espn.go.com/nba and http://www.facebook.com/NBAonESPN. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ESPN Radio Releases Schedule For NBA All-Star Game Broadcast

Courtesy: ESPN/ESPN Radio

ESPN Radio will nationally broadcast the 2013 Sprint NBA All-Star Game.  This marks the 17^th straight year that ESPN Radio will have events through the All-Star game, which lead up to the broadcast of the annual game.  The game will be broadcast this Sunday, February 17^th at 7:30pm EST.  The game will be called by Kevin Calabro.  He will be joined by analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay. Marc Kestecher will join the team live from ESPN’s studios.  He will be joined by NBA Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, ESPN NBA insider Marc Stein, and reporter Shelley Smith.

Coverage of this weekend’s All-Star Game starts Friday with a broadcast of First Take live from Houston at 10am.   ESPN Radio’s SVP and Rusillo will also broadcast live.  The pair will broadcast live at 1pm this Friday.  It will also simulcast on ESPNNEWS.  Both shows will broadcast from the House of Blues in Houston.  Along with the live broadcast, Ryen Rusillo will also participate in the 2013 All-Star Celebrity Game live from the George R. Brown Convention Center.  He and ESPN commentator Bruce Bowen will be among many other celebrities taking part in the game.  Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and James Harden (Houston Rockets) will serve as special coaches for the event.  Mark Jones will provide commentary for the game and will be joined by analyst Jon Barry and reporter Chris Broussard.  Audiences can catch the game via ESPN Mobile TV and online at WatchESPN.  Audiences with tablets and smart phones can catch the game with the WatchESPN app.

ESPN.com will have even more content through the weekend including live chats and grades for all events related to the NBA All-Star Game.  TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott will also present TrueHoop TV content all weekend.  A full schedule of events from ESPN Radio and ESPN International is available below.

ESPN Radio’s 2013 NBA All-Star schedule

 

Date	Event	Time (ET)
Fri., Feb. 15	BBVA Rising Stars Challenge	9 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 16	Meet the All-Stars	6 p.m.
	NBA All-Star Saturday Night: The Sears Shooting Stars The Taco Bell Skills Challenge The Foot Locker Three-Point Contest The Sprite Slam Dunk Contest	8:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 17	2013 Sprint NBA All-Star Game	7:30 p.m.

 

ESPN International All-Star coverage

NBA All-Star Celebrity Game:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Friday at 7pm EST

Rising Stars Challenge:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Friday at 9pm EST

NBA All-Star Saturday Night:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Saturday at 8:30pm                                                               EST.

NBA All-Star Game:  Live on Pac-Rim, Brazil, Atlantic, Caribbean and UK, Sunday at 8pm EST

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.