One of the NBA’s most famous television analysts, the Celtics’ Tommy Heinsohn, has died. Also: ESPN’s Connor Schell is leaving the company, Andre Iguodala will analyze Stephen Curry’s golf game, and more.
Longtime Celtics player, coach, broadcaster Heinsohn dies
Basketball Hall of Famer Tom Heinsohn, a ten-time NBA champion player and coach with the Celtics who spent more than four decades broadcasting the team’s games locally, died Tuesday at age 86. Heinsohn first worked Celtics games from 1966-70, including a stretch in which he handled play-by-play, before settling into his best-known role as the team’s lead game analyst in 1981. He and play-by-play voice Mike Gorman worked together for the next 40 seasons, a record for any pro sports broadcast pairing, according to the Boston Globe.
Heinsohn’s role had been diminished in recent years due to health issues and he did not call the team’s games after the season went on hiatus in March.
Heinsohn also called NBA games nationally for CBS from 1983-90, including the 1984-87 NBA Finals — each involving the Celtics. Beyond the NBA, he worked college basketball games locally and nationally at various points in his career. [Boston Globe 11.10]
ESPN exec Schell departs
ESPN announced this week that EVP/content Connor Schell, widely considered one of the rising stars in the industry, is leaving in January to form an independent production company. The news was first reported by the New York Post. Through his new company, Schell will continue to work closely with ESPN on projects such as 30 For 30 documentaries and the ESPY Awards. [ESPN PR 11.9]
Iguodala, Eli, analysts on “The Match” featuring Curry, Peyton
Miami Heat F Andre Iguodala will serve as an analyst for the next edition of golf’s “The Match” on TNT, it was announced Wednesday. Iguodala will work alongside fellow analyst Trevor Immelman and host Brian Anderson on the November 27 charity match pitting Phil Mickelson and Charles Barkley against Peyton Manning and Iguodala’s former teammate Stephen Curry.
Cari Champion is scheduled to host pre-match coverage alongside Peyton’s brother Eli Manning and Michelle Wie. Tiger Woods‘ niece Cheyenne Woods will serve as an on-course reporter, as will Gary McCord. [Turner Sports PR]
Plus: Mark Jones, Claire Smith, Muffet McGraw
ESPN NBA play-by-play voice Mark Jones was named the new voice of the Sacramento Kings last week, replacing Grant Napear. Jones will continue to work games for ESPN. … Claire Smith, the veteran baseball writer honored by Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017, said last week that she was included in ESPN’s recent layoffs. Smith had been with ESPN since 2007, serving as a coordinating editor for the network’s Major League Baseball coverage. … Retired Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw has joined ESPN’s ACC Network as a studio analyst, with her debut scheduled for Wednesday. [Kings.com 11.6, Smith/Twitter 11.5, ESPN PR 11.9]
