Have you ever watched an NBA game, and just can’t ignore getting engaged in, also listening to the on-court commentary that is going on? I certainly have been unable to ignore that. After all, it is all part of the NBA experience. A good or bad commentary can change the entire experience of watching a game for anyone, especially for die-hard NBA fans who are well accustomed to the sport and want to hear some more expert opinion. If lapses occur on the commentators’ table, then those fans seldom shy away from making their criticism known. The same is happening now, as the playoff matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers recently concluded.

Back in October 2024, former NBA player Cory Alexander saw his role, and was asked to call regular-season NBA games on ESPN. Earlier, he used to call games only on ESPN Radio and the NBA Summer League. This continued on, and Alexander even started commentating on the ongoing Cavaliers-Pacers series as a color commentator.

Unfortunately, as the game progressed, it became apparent that the 51-year-old might not have been the best person to call the game. After all, reports started to come in that the former player was allegedly promoting the Cleveland Cavaliers too much. On top of that, he was siding with the referees’ decisions. He also came under attack for claiming that.

James Johnson will get real minutes in Game 4, even though the Pacers player played in only 12 games in the regular season, started in none, and averaged 3.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.5 assists.

Cory Alexander does carry a reputation for not always saying the most appealing things when calling out games. It was only back in March when the former player came under fire for remarks he made during the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament. Duke Blue Devils star player Cooper Flagg, who is also expected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, was injured during a game. As the camera panned towards Flagg’s parents, Ralph and Kelly, Alexander went on to say “You can see, of course, tremendous concern on the faces of Ralph and Kelly Flagg, Cooper’s parents, rightfully so. But I can tell you one thing. They are most concerned about the Blue Devils winning this game. That is their number one priority. They are all-in on Duke Blue.”

Well, just my opinion, but no parent would be thinking about a team win more than their child, who is recovering from an injury.

Cory Alexander dug his grave with the color commentary, and people wanted to make that known to him.

NBA fans troll Cory Alexander over his role on the commentators table: “ most biased”

One social media user wrote “This has to be the most biased color commentator I have EVER heard. Worse than Doris Burke with the Knicks. @espn you are a JOKE.”

The following opinion was given out amidst claims that the ESPN commentator was reportedly praising Max Strus “for flopping”, while he was criticizing Bennedict Mathurin for getting pushed. Furthermore, Cory Alexander was also reportedly calling Pacers fans drunk because they reacted to an officiating call. All in all, the commentator wasn’t winning much favors from fans of Tyrese Haliburton and co.

One individual wrote, “Thought it was just me lmao. When the Cavs made clear and obvious fouls and got away with it he was joking saying that’s how it goes but when the pacers do bro starts ranting. How are u gonna be a commentator but be CLEARLY biased to one team?”

This isn’t the first time NBA fans have accused ESPN and TNT commentators of being biased. More often than not, Reggie Miller has had to face criticism for supporting the Lakers over other teams. He denied such things by stating, “The best compliments I have are on social media when I hear fans saying, ‘You’re such a homer for the Lakers,’ and then the very next comment is, ‘Why are you all on the bandwagon of the Nuggets?’ I’ve done my job”.

Similarly, fans have not liked it when Bob Myers calls games. After all, since he was once the GM for the Golden State Warriors, there is the belief that he cannot be partial. If Alexander does prefer the Cavaliers, however, then it is a mystery as to why. After all, he was never previously associated with the team in any capacity before.

One social media user wrote “I feel like the play-by-play guy was not so bad but the color commentator was glazing the Cavaliers too much” and “The play-by-play guy usually was with Richard Jefferson last year, and they were a good pairing”.

Well, maybe Alexander needs Richard Jefferson to come assist him, then. Unfortunately, Richard Jefferson is currently not calling out the playoff games. Instead, he is doing a breakdown of said games by doing guest appearances on ‘The Ryen Russillo Podcast’. Back in February, it was also reported that Richard Jefferson is taking ABC’s NBA Finals broadcasting spot abandoned by JJ Redick. He will be next to Mike Breen and Doris Burke, and away from Cory Alexander, which would allow him to catch any strays.

One individual wrote “The ESPN color commentator for the Cavs – Pacers game has been one of the most atrocious clueless bozos i’ve ever heard. My ears are bleeding @espn”.

A March 2025 report by Awful Announcing once created a grade list for all announcers. The pair of Dave O’Brien, Dick Vitale, and Cory Alexander were given a 2.52 out of 4. A lot of criticism was directed towards Alexander, with reviews saying that he was “mediocre at best,” “F for Cory,” “just awful,” and “quite possibly the worst color commentator in sports”. Particular complaints were made about his self-referencing, and name-dropping.

One social media user wrote, “idk who this color commentator is ESPN got with Ryan Ruocco tonight but he is disgustingly biased lmaoo he been slandering Pacers players all night”.

Despite all this criticism, there must be a reason why Cory Alexander has continued to be with ESPN for so long. After all, he joined the network as a college basketball analyst back in 2009. It is a mystery that might never get answered.

Overall, the majority of people were united in taking a negative stance against Cory Alexander. One hopes that the commentator takes the criticism to heart, and probably work on it in order to receive more words of adoration than criticism.