For the past two years, ESPN’s main NBA broadcast team has felt like a chaotic game of musical chairs. After the network made the shocking move to let go of the long-time, well-loved duo of Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson in 2023, it’s been just a constant shuffle of analysts trying to click next to the legendary Mike Breen. First, it was Doc Rivers, who lasted just a few months before heading back to coaching. Then, it was JJ Redick, who left after just one season to coach the Lakers. In the middle of all that, ESPN made a huge, groundbreaking move: they promoted Hall of Famer Doris Burke to the main team, a historic first. Now, in a really cruel twist, her spot is the one being questioned.

While the network seems to have found some stability by reaching an agreement to bring back Richard Jefferson, a bombshell report from NBA insider Ary has sent shockwaves through the sports media world. “BREAKING: Doris Burke’s role as an analyst for the NBA Finals broadcast for ESPN is under serious internal review and is expected to be removed, league and industry sources say,” the report stated. So, what’s really behind this investigation into a broadcasting legend?

According to Andrew Marchand’s reporting, it all comes down to a mix of how she clicks on air and some controversial moments. A big part of the talk inside ESPN is reportedly about “if they feel Burke is better on a two-person team as opposed to the three-person team.” Marchand pointed out that in the current setup, Burke “hasn’t seemed to mesh as well with Breen. He doesn’t outright ignore what she says, but they rarely build on each other’s comments.”

And that lack of smooth talking has been made worse by a few awkward mistakes that really got people upset, including her referring to MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a “free-throw merchant.” Then, during a Thunder-Timberwolves game, after a Rudy Gobert (who is French) dunk over Isaiah Hartenstein (who has German heritage), she quipped, “I don’t know much about history, but I know the French and German don’t like one another… Rudy says, ‘Bonjour, Mr. Hartenstein!’ Have a little bit of that left-handed dunk!“ The awkward, World War II-esque joke landed with a thud for many viewers.

But the criticism wasn’t just about a few isolated comments, it was about the overall analysis during the NBA Finals. Media personality Mark Titus went on a viral rant, accusing the broadcast crew, and Burke specifically, of “carrying water” for SGA and ignoring his offensive fouls.

And now it looks like ESPN already has someone else ready to step in. Marchand’s report confirms that long-time analyst Tim Legler is seen as the “leading candidate” to take her spot. Marchand laid out the exact tough choice facing ESPN executives: “The question that ESPN has to ask themselves is, they like Tim Legler a lot. Is it enough of an upgrade that you put Legler in there for Doris Burke, with Richard Jefferson,” he explained. “Is Legler, at this point, better than Doris Burke? That’s a decision that they’re going to have to make.”

It’s a tough spot for a broadcasting legend, a Hall of Famer who broke new ground just two years ago. And it shines a harsh light on the messy state of ESPN’s main NBA broadcast. But as it turns out, Doris Burke’s future isn’t the only one in question.

Doris Burke isn’t the only one: ESPN’s NBA talent in flux as contracts expire

According to a report from Front Office Sports, two of the network’s other biggest stars, Malika Andrews and Brian Windhorst, are also about to become free agents, with their contracts ending this year.

Andrews, the 30-year-old host of NBA Today and NBA Countdown, is in a particularly strong position. Her deal is reportedly up this fall, and there’s a lot of talk that she might be looking for a bigger role at ABC, following in the footsteps of Robin Roberts. She’s done little to quiet the rumors, dropping a series of not-so-subtle hints on social media.

There was the Instagram story of an ABC-branded mug with the caption, “Happy Monday,” and a behind-the-scenes look at a guest spot on Good Morning America. Most recently, after the ESPYs, she posted a series of glamorous photos with the caption, “Playing dress up at the 2025 ESPYs with the best dates 🤩 … But all night I was really thinking about getting to the last slide!” It was another cryptic message that has fans convinced she’s mapping out her next big move.

Then there’s Brian Windhorst. The veteran reporter, whose contract is up this summer, has become one of the most important voices in basketball media. As one source put it, “Shams is the what—and Windy is the why.” In a new media world where NBC and Amazon are aggressively trying to hire top talent for their new NBA packages, both Andrews and Windhorst are in a perfect spot to demand a huge new deal, whether it’s with ESPN or a new company.

It all adds up to a time of massive uncertainty for the network. The chaos that started with the firing of Van Gundy and Jackson is far from over, and by the time everything settles, ESPN’s NBA coverage could look very, very different.