Apr 22, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) shoots against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter of game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN has a new NBA analyst, and it’s an active player.

On Monday, the company announced that New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum would be joining as a multi-platform NBA analyst.

Per a release, McCollum will make his debut on Thursday, June 2nd during an alternate broadcast of Game 1 of the NBA Finals (more details on this will be announced tomorrow).

It is my honor to be joining the ESPN family in this new role and I am excited to bring what I feel is my unique perspective, based on my vast knowledge of the game that I’ve gained during my nine years as a player in the NBA,” said McCollum. “To have an opportunity to put my journalism background to use on the largest stage with the many talented professionals at ESPN is a dream come true.”

McCollum will appear on the standard suite of ESPN studio programming (NBA Countdown, NBA Today, SportsCenter, Get Up, First Take, etc), and will also host a new podcast for the company. Additionally, McCollum will work as a game analyst during the Summer League.

This seems similar to Draymond Green’s deal with Turner, which includes regular appearances on Inside the NBA and “additional content initiatives.” Green also has a podcast with Colin Cowherd’s The Volume podcast network.

I feel like in the coming months and years, we’re going to see more athletes strike deals like this with media companies. I think we’ll also see more of the “pre-retirement” deals, like those signed by Tom Brady and Greg Olsen with Fox, when players that may be coveted analysts are reaching the end of the line.

[ESPN]

About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.