NBA Finals Media Hub

Former New York Knicks PG Jeremy Lin is working as a studio analyst on ESPN during its coverage of the NBA Finals, it was announced Tuesday. Lin will take part in different editions of "SportsCenter," along with "NBA Today" and "Hoop Streams."

ESPN SVP/sports production Tim Corrigan said that ABC will air the national anthem and starting lineups for every game in the series. Corrigan, who spoke to reporters on a conference call Tuesday, added that there will be a new graphics package and unique 80-second opens for each game looking back at moments from previous NBA Finals series.

ESPN NBA play-by-play announcer Mike Breen said calling an NBA Finals series featuring the New York Knicks is "[k]ind of a bucket list thing." Breen, who spoke to reporters on a conference call Tuesday, will be broadcasting the championship series on ABC for the 21st time. Throughout that time, he has also called Knicks games locally for MSG Networks with analyst Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Breen said that if the Knicks did end up winning the series, it would be "hard to predict" his emotions.

When later asked about calling the series objectively without bias, Breen referenced Marv Albert and how he went about calling the NBA Finals with the Knicks. Breen: "It's your job. It's your profession. There's so much going on that you don't have time to think the other way. I'd like to think that I'll always call it down the middle."

ESPN analyst Tim Legler will make his debut announcing the NBA Finals this year alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, analyst Richard Jefferson and reporter Lisa Salters, marking the third straight year with a new lead broadcast team for the championship series. Breen told reporters on a conference call Tuesday that Legler and Jefferson "play off of each other so well" and bring "different perspectives as players."

"Every time we do a game, every time on a broadcast, they just love the game so much," Breen said. "It just keeps getting better and better. Like in a basketball team, continuity is important. Like a broadcast team, continuity is important, and we've been able to do a lot of games this year. I'm thrilled with how we started and how we continue to get better every game."

Breen worked with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson on the NBA Finals for 15 seasons, culminating in 2023 when the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in five games. Jefferson joined the lead booth in 2025 following the departure of JJ Redick, who had called the NBA Finals the year before with Breen and analyst Doris Burke.

Legler started calling games with Breen and Jefferson this season, while Burke largely broadcast matchups with play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch. Salters has been part of NBA Finals broadcasts since 2022 after previously filling in on the broadcast team 16 years earlier.