After an abrupt end to his tenure with the Clippers, Bruce Bowen is returning to ESPN. In other news, Bowen’s former partner Ralph Lawler is retiring, and Turner Sports’ David Aldridge is leaving for The Athletic.
Bowen Returning to ESPN
Former ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen is returning to the network, the New York Post reported Thursday. Bowen, who worked for ESPN from 2009-17, will resume his previous role as an NBA studio analyst. He spent last season working Clippers games but was not retained after he made critical comments about Clippers free agent target Kawhi Leonard.
According to the same Post report, ESPN has reached a multi-year contract extension with NBA analyst Hubie Brown and is pursuing Nuggets F Richard Jefferson should he choose to retire. [NYP 9.13]
Lawler Retiring at Season’s End
Los Angeles Clippers play-by-play voice Ralph Lawler will retire from broadcasting at the end of this season, the team announced this week. Lawler has called Clippers games since 1978, when the team initially moved to California. Throughout the season, he will be joined in the broadcast booth by his “closest friends and colleagues,” among them Bill Walton. [NBA.com 9.12]
Aldridge Leaving Turner
Turner Sports reporter David Aldridge announced Monday that he is departing the outlet to join The Athletic. In his new role, which begins next month, he will serve as editor-in-chief of the site’s Washington D.C. section. Aldridge joined Turner in 2004 after a previous eight-year run with ESPN. [The Athletic 9.10]
