Colin Cowherd calls out ESPN’s presentation, coverage of NBA: ‘They’ve underproduced and underdelivered’

Colin Cowherd called out ESPN’s production of the NBA on a recent edition of his podcast. He brought on fellow Fox Sports host Nick Wright to discuss the four-letter-network’s presentation.

With Game 7 of the NBA Finals on tap for Sunday, there’s been a lot of critique of ESPN’s NBA coverage, namely because of Stephen A. Smith and the recent generated headlines from the $100 million man. Cowherd wasn’t afraid to criticize his former employer either.

But Cowherd didn’t specifically say it was a talent issue, rather it was chemistry on the main broadcast, led by play-by-play man Mike Breen. He then rattled off other pairings that have worked for nearly this entire quarter-century.

“I don’t like the chemistry on the ESPN NBA broadcast. It’s not the people, it’s the chemistry,” Cowherd said on his The Colin Cowherd Podcast. “As you know, there’s a reason Mike (Wilbon) and Tony (Kornheiser) have been a hit show for 25 years or plus — their chemistry is amazing. There is a reason (Joe) Buck and (Troy) Aikman went Fox to ESPN together; they have tremendous chemistry. [John] Madden and (Pat) Summerall. It’s really, really hard.

“Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, and Breen had remarkable chemistry. And for 23 years, or however long ESPN’s had the NBA, they have struggled with pregame shows, postgame shows, the perfect pairing. And they had it. And then they blew it up. My guess is that Van Gundy can be critical of the league. There was David Stern pushback from time to time on critical interviews from Bob Costas or others, which needed to be done.”

Cowherd was a radio and TV host for ESPN from 2003-15 before making the move to Fox Sports. He was recently pursued for a potential reunion with the network, but opted to stay put. “Uncle Colin” did concede ESPN does things well, except when it comes to the NBA for the most part.

“ESPN does a lot very, very well, in my opinion,” he said. “I think they’re so good at the Little League World Series, SportsCenter, the NFL Draft, Scott Van Pelt show, Mike and Tony. There’s just a lot of really talented people there. College GameDay. They’ve just built really, really solid foundational pieces of broadcasting. I have great admiration. I do not think they’ve been good with the NBA.

“Now, I think Mike Breen’s as good as anybody — including Marv Albert — I’ve ever heard do basketball. But I think for 20 years — and I don’t do this — I think they’ve underproduced and underdelivered with the NBA.”