The NBA has officially announced the dates and format for its new In-Season Tournament. Plus: more names coming out of ESPN talent purge, and more sports media news.
NBA announces details of in-season tournament
The NBA on Saturday officially announced that play in its inaugural In-Season Tournament will begin on Friday, November 3, with group play games being held every Tuesday and Friday through November 28 and the single-elimination knockout rounds running December 4, 5, 7 and 9. The semifinals and final will be held in Las Vegas, while all other games will take place in home markets. (The December 9 title game will likely air on ABC, as the network has carried a primetime window on the second weekend of December in each of the past two seasons.)
As far as the format of the tournament, each conference will be divided into three five-team groups (for example, “Group A” in the Western Conference consists of the Lakers, Suns, Jazz, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies). The teams in each group with the best tournament records will advance to the knockout round, joined by the top second-place finisher in both conference. (NBA)
More ESPN layoffs
ESPN betting analyst Doug Kezirian, the original host of the ESPN2 gaming show Daily Wager, has reportedly been included in the company’s recent talent layoffs, per Front Office Sports. Kezirian hosted Daily Wager from 2019-22, a role now held by Tyler Fulghum.
ESPN boxing analyst Andre Ward, who had been with the network for six years, also announced that his contract will not be renewed. The network will reportedly take the next year to reevaluate talent contracts, per Front Office Sports.
ESPN’s latest round of talent layoffs has already resulted in the ouster of Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber and other familiar names. (FOS 7.2)
Plus: ESPYs host, Mark Ingram, YES cameraman
- Wednesday’s ESPY Awards will reportedly go without a host for the first time in its 31-year history due to the ongoing Hollywood writer’s strike. As with all award shows, the ESPYs host traditionally delivers a monologue written by a team of writers, along with performing other emcee duties. ESPN will announce which guests will be presenting the various awards on Monday. (The Big Lead 7.7)
- Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram has been officially named an analyst on the Fox Sports Big Noon Kickoff pregame show, the network announced Thursday. Ingram will join other former college standouts Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn on set, alongside the embattled coach Urban Meyer. He is replacing Reggie Bush on the show. (Fox Sports)
- YES Network camera operator Pete Stendel, who suffered an orbital fracture after being struck by an errant throw to first during Wednesday’s Yankees-Orioles game, was home resting as of Thursday and had spoken by phone to both Yankees manager Aaron Boone and the source of the throw, Orioles SS Gunnar Henderson. (YES, 7.6)
