Doris Burke and Doc Rivers named to ESPN and ABC top NBA crew

[{"selector":"#anim-89c11196-b1ee-4810-a1d4-836f07766f45 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.97426453582327%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Doris Burke would become the first woman to serve as a television game analyst for the championship finals in one of the four major professional American sports leagues.

[{"selector":"#anim-a8551263-fc74-412f-9d4c-b745861ce1bc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(20.805920863073442%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] ESPN announced Monday that Burke and Doc Rivers will join Mike Breen on ESPN and ABC's top NBA broadcast teams.

[{"selector":"#anim-dc6d0728-466d-4dcf-998e-a2708c16fa78 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-31.45829716504634%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] This is a pioneering step. You are absolutely right. But the only way for any leader to be successful, whether African American or female or whoever, is based on results and their performance.

[{"selector":"#anim-cf054441-6bee-422a-b46c-e9993c043312 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.075562543656144%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Doris Burke's performance and results are unprecedented and unmatched in this industry ”said David Roberts, ESPN's head of studio and event production.

[{"selector":"#anim-74e2c651-599b-4628-93b0-815574722788 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.97426453582327%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Burke, who joined ESPN in 1990, has been an analyst on the network's NBA games since 2017.

[{"selector":"#anim-13b71493-3bb2-43b8-9bf8-7dd20e3fe0dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.273480500807946%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] He called the last four Finals on ESPN Radio after being a sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the Finals from 2009–19.

[{"selector":"#anim-5d9e4daa-2dcf-4bcc-82b0-3bc695f869af [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.10510075416047%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Rivers, fired as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, called games on ESPN during the 2003–04 season, as well as the 2004 Finals on ABC.