In a rare in-season move, ESPN has named SportsNation’s Michelle Beadle as the full-time host of NBA Countdown on both ABC and the Mothership. Not only will Beadle host the rest of the regular season, she’ll be the host of ESPN’s NBA Playoff coverage all the way through the Finals in June. She takes over for Sage Steele’s portion of programs immediately.
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Beadle will take over the NBA Countdown on ABC shows that Sage Steele hosted. Steele, who will part of ESPN’s coverage of The Masters this week, will transition to a full-time host of “SportsCenter on the Road” segments. In Steele’s new role, she’ll travel across the country to various sporting events to front ESPN’s SportsCenter coverage.
Kevin Wildes, ESPN VP of original content couldn’t be happier with Beadle on NBA Coutndown:
“I’ve had the wonderful experience of working directly with Michelle for several years and as predicted, she’s made a tremendous mark on NBA Countdown since joining the show in October. It’s very rare to find a commentator who can so masterfully combine intelligence, candor, and humor and she does it all while keeping her finger on the pulse of the NBA. Like a great point guard, she makes everyone around her better and we’re looking forward to this next chapter in Michelle’s career as she leads us forward on NBA Countdown.”
As for Beadle, she couldn’t be more thrilled to be hosting NBA Countdown full-time:
“The only thing better than working for Connor Schell and Kevin Wildes is being able to spend each day with all of the incredibly talented people at NBA Countdown and SportsNation. It’s the best job in sports. Did I mention that Kawhi Leonard is the M.V.P. of the league?”
Back in September, Beadle was named as a host of Countdown to split duties with Steele. Beadle was initially hosting on Wednesdays and Fridays, while Steele hosted the ABC portion on Countdown on weekends. Now, Beadle will work all NBA Countdown shows on both networks for the foreseeable future.
[ESPN/Photo courtesy ESPN]
