Mike Breen got about three months in with JJ Redick as a game analyst in ESPN’s top NBA broadcast booth before the longtime sharpshooter was scooped up for a head coaching job, just like his predecessor Doc Rivers. So while Breen was basking in the thrill of another season as the top voice of the NBA and watched confetti fall on the NBA champion Boston Celtics, he also was prepping for more turnover in the booth.
In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday, Breen all but confirmed Redick would not be back. Asked by Patrick whether Redick was “still on ESPN’s payroll,” Breen said his best guess was no.
“We’re trying to confirm that right now,” Breen laughed. “To answer your question, I’d say no … I’m like those coaches that have coaching trees, I’m the broadcaster who now has a coaching tree.”
Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were laid off by ESPN last summer, replaced by Doris Burke and Doc Rivers. After a half-season back in broadcasting, Rivers left to coach the Milwaukee Bucks.
If Redick is replaced with a new partner for Burke and Breen, the longtime NBA play-by-play man will have to work with his fifth analyst in a year’s time. Fortunately for Breen, ESPN gave him a nice contract extension to make up for the mess. But it can’t be easy to deal with.
Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily and Audacy reported later Tuesday that Redick’s deal to coach the Lakers was done.
Hearing it’s done. JJ Redick is the next coach of the Lakers. About to go live to talk about it.
— Anthony F. Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) June 18, 2024
Breen also confirmed he checked in with Redick throughout the NBA postseason to gauge how real it was. Breen said Redick has not been formally offered the Lakers’ job yet, and that he was still prepping for next season as if Redick would be alongside him.
However, by that point in the interview, Breen was just dancing around questions from Patrick.
It appears Breen knows what is quickly becoming public info. JJ Redick will coach the Lakers after all, creating a fascinating saga in Los Angeles and another headache for ESPN.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.