The NBA has finalized plans to resume its season in Orlando and will release a schedule tonight. Also: ESPN and Keyshawn Johnson have reportedly reached a deal; Mike Tirico is heading on-site for an IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader.
NBA finalizes plan to restart season; schedule coming Friday night
The NBA announced Friday that it has finalized an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association on its plan to restart the halted season and officially secured Walt Disney World in Orlando as a site for all games. As previously reported by multiple outlets, the season would resume July 30 and conclude no later than October 13.
As previously announced, the NBA plans to have 22 teams compete in eight ‘seeding’ games to complete the regular season, with the complete game and national TV schedule for those games set to be announced Friday night. That would be followed by a traditional four round, best-of-seven, conference-based NBA Playoffs. [NBA PR]
ESPN, Keyshawn, agree on morning show deal: report
ESPN has reached an agreement with Keyshawn Johnson that will put the former Sunday NFL Countdown analyst on the ESPN Radio morning show currently hosted by Trey Wingo and Mike Golic, the New York Post reported Thursday.
Johnson would debut in mid-August, though that is not set in stone.
Johnson’s co-host has not been decided. Max Kellerman had once been mentioned, but that is now said to be unlikely. According to Outkick the Coverage, ESPN is exploring Jalen Rose and David Jacoby as possible co-hosts, though it was not clear from the report whether ESPN would pick one or both.
Per the Post, the futures of Golic and Wingo are unclear, though show contributor Mike Golic Jr. is expected to continue with ESPN Radio in another role. [NYP 6.25, Outkick 6.25]
Tirico on-site for IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader
NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico will be on-site to host NBC’s coverage of the planned July 4 IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his first on-site assignment since the majority of sporting events were called off in March.
Tirico hosted last weekend’s Belmont Stakes from NBC Sports’ Connecticut studios and last month’s “Driving Relief” golf event from his home. [NBC Sports PR 6.24]
