JJ Redick may slide into ESPN’s top NBA team. Plus: NBA commissioner Adam Silver to sign extension; Vince McMahon resigns from TKO following sexual misconduct allegations.
Redick floated for ESPN lead analyst role
In the wake of Doc Rivers‘ abrupt return to coaching, ESPN is weighing whether to elevate JJ Redick to its lead NBA broadcast team of Mike Breen and Doris Burke, the New York Post reported Monday. A decision is expected by NBA All-Star Weekend next month. An alternate scenario is to allow the Breen and Burke duo to finish out the season and leave Redick on his current crew with Ryan Ruocco and Richard Jefferson.
Prior to this season, ESPN had one of the longest-tenured broadcast teams in all of sports with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson. (NY Post, 1.29)
Adam Silver to receive contract extension
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will reportedly sign a contract extension that will keep him in his role through the end of the decade, ESPN reported Saturday. Silver’s first order of business will be to negotiate new media rights deals for the league with the current set of deals expiring after the 2024-25 season. The commissioner will also have to navigate the ongoing RSN crisis, specifically with the 15 franchises currently inked to agreements with Bally Sports.
Last year, Silver took several steps to help usher the NBA into a new era. The NBA and NBPA reached a collective bargaining agreement that goes through 2029. Should Silver remain commissioner through the end of his new contract, he will lead the league through another CBA negotiation. The league also finalized the play-in tournament structure, introduced the in-season tournament, and took steps to address load management for players. (ESPN, 1.27)
Vince McMahon steps down from TKO amid lawsuit
WWE co-founder Vince McMahon has stepped down as executive chairman from the newly-formed TKO Group, the Endeavor-facilitated entity that merged UFC with WWE last year. The story was first reported by Deadline on Friday. McMahon, who is no stranger to scandal, faces a lawsuit from a former WWE employee alleging sexual misconduct. In a statement, McMahon signaled his intention to litigate the matter further stating the lawsuit is, “replete with lies.”
The news comes days after reports that media rights to one of WWE’s marquee properties Raw will be sold to Netflix for $5bn over ten years. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel took measures to distance McMahon from TKO and WWE last week stating, “Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE.”
WWE held one of its annual tent pole events, the Royal Rumble, Saturday on Peacock. (Deadline, 1.26)
