Amazon Prime Video is close to a deal to make Kevin Harlan its No. 2 NBA player when it begins covering the league later this year, sources briefed on the discussion said. Athletics.
With the expected addition of Harlan, Amazon will have a one-two punch between Ian Eagle and Harlan. Amazon and Eagle have already agreed that it will nominate the best games. Amazon has also already announced that its studio shows will include host Taylor Rooks and analysts Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin.
Amazon declined to comment on Harlan on Tuesday.
As for Eagle and Harlan’s partners, Amazon is still looking for analysts. The streamer has had discussions with Dwyane Wade about a hybrid role for in-studio and in-game coverage. Stan Van Gundy, who works at TNT, and Richard Jefferson, who works at ESPN, are also on Amazon’s radar.
Harlan, 64, has been a mainstay of NBA coverage for TNT Sports for decades. After Marv Albert’s retirement, TNT never officially named Harlan as Albert’s successor, but his assignments were slightly better than Brian Anderson’s. Anderson is also TNT Sports’ main MLB player.
Harlan, like Eagle, is expected to continue serving in the NFL and college basketball for CBS. Harlan is also the radio voice of “Monday Night Football” and the Super Bowl for Westwood One.
TNT Sports is in its final season as the NBA rights holder. Next season, game packages will be split between incumbents ESPN/ABC, Amazon Prime Video and NBC/Peacock. NBC and Peacock should have Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle as their top two callers. NBC has had discussions with TNT’s Reggie Miller about calling plays.
ESPN, meanwhile, is determining whether it will add a third person to its current duo of Mike Breen and Doris Burke for the NBA Finals. Jefferson has been considered a slight favorite, but according to sources briefed on ESPN’s thinking, Tim Legler also has some support.
ESPN also hasn’t shut down the idea of adding Grant Hill at some point. Hill works for TNT/NBA TV and is one of Eagle’s partners, along with Bill Raftery, as the voice of the Final Four.
(Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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