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On Tuesday, NBC Sports made the announcement that Reggie Miller will become the lead game analyst for all NBA coverage starting next season. Miller is one of the most admired legends in basketball history and will now part ways with TNT Sports after spending 20 years as one of the best NBA analysts. His bringing back to NBC indicates a major overhaul in the basketball broadcasting lineup of the network in preparation for a relaunch of NBA coverage.
A Legendary Legacy of NBC
For Miller, NBC is home. During his 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers, his most iconic traumas were shown live on NBC, the network which held the broadcasting rights of the NBA from 1990 until 2002. Perhaps the most legacy-defining performance was in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, in which at Madison Square Garden, he managed to score eight points in only nine seconds and win the game in dramatic fashion.
In a statement regarding his return to NBC, Miller stated, “Some of my favorite memories are at NBC, and I hope to make a lot more.”
Miller's Legacy and New Job
Whether it be at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame or NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, inducted in 2012, Miller comes super heavily laden with much experience and insight into his new role. Miller will generally call one or more regular-season games and playoffs weekly for the NBC Network, appealing to the fans with his signature combination of analysis and charisma.
NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood enthused over Miller's individuality, saying, "Having provided so many memorable moments on NBC during his playing days, it's only fitting that Reggie will join our team as the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock. Not only was Reggie one of the game's greatest shooters and clutch performers, as all basketball fans know, but he was also one of the most entertaining players with an incredible combination of skill and swagger, and he has taken those traits into his broadcasting career and delivers in-depth analysis for the audience differently."
NBC's NBA coverage plans
NBC's NBA coverage promises to be extensive, featuring up to 100 regular-season games on offer. Under this new structure, Sunday night games will feature on the network once the NFL season has finished, and the Tuesday night matchups will fill the regular season calendar, with a special Monday night doubleheader broadcast exclusively on Peacock. The All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night will be highlighted in the network's December programming.
During the playoffs, NBC and Peacock will air up to 28 games in the first two rounds, with at least half of those on NBC. During six of the 11 years covered under the deal, it will also provide one of the two conference finals onscreen.
NBC's Broadcasting Team
NBC has also built a strong team around Miller. Mike Tirico is going to be the lead play-by-play announcer, while Jamal Crawford is set to be a game analyst. Among the appointed people is Frank DiGraci, a coordinating producer.
Although Noah Eagle, who is known to have covered college football, college basketball, and NFL, has yet to be officially announced, he is also expected to be part of the NBC NBA team. Jalen Rose currently serves as a game analyst on NBC and Peacock for college basketball but will also have some NBA experience from ESPN/ABC.
Looking Ahead
This was NBC Sports' approach to bring the American public a fresh and unique view of sports. Not only does Miller help blend the past and present as he bridges old and new approaches to NBA broadcasting on NBC, but he also sets the stage for a whole new tomorrow in that regard. As the relaunch approaches, viewers will be able to enjoy plenty of nostalgia mixed in with expert analysis and coverage of thrilling live games.
Starting in October, NBC's NBA coverage will bring fans closer to the action than ever before.
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