ESPN is bringing in a familiar name to serve as their new NBA analyst. George Karl has been given a multi-year deal to provide basketball insight on SportsCenter, NBA Coast to Coast, NBA Tonight and other shows under the ESPN label.
Karl, the recipient of the 2012-13 Coach of the Year award, is no stranger to ESPN. He was an ESPN NBA analyst for the network during the 2002-03 season. It seemed likely that Karl would continue to coach in the NBA after winning the Coach of the Year award, but Denver fired him and other opportunities dried up. Now he's back to TV.
Karl told ESPN:
I’m excited to be back at ESPN and to offer the insights that I’ve gathered from 25 years of coaching. It’s going to be a fun season ahead and I’m looking forward to sharing it with our viewers.
This is a strong hire by ESPN. While most of us probably don't remember his last stint with ESPN very clearly, the man has a wealth of basketball knowledge. He has coached in the NBA since 1984, spending time with Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver.
UPDATE: ESPN also announced the addition of another one of their former analysts – former Mavs and Nets head coach Avery Johnson. He previously worked at ESPN from 2008-2010.
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