NBA Countdown on ESPN Expands to One Hour during Regular Season, NBA Playoffs

Debuts Wednesday, October 19 for Preseason Coverage

ESPN today announced its commentator teams for the Wednesday and Friday editions of NBA Countdown – ESPN’s NBA pre-game show. NBA Countdown host Michelle Beadle will be joined by analysts Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups and Tracy McGrady on Wednesdays, and Rose and Billups on Fridays. NBA Countdown on ESPN will expand to mostly one-hour shows on Wednesdays and Fridays this season, starting at 7 p.m. ET prior to ESPN NBA doubleheaders.

NBA Countdown host Michelle Beadle:

“Everyone knows how much I love the NBA, which is why I’m beyond excited to be the host of NBA Countdown. To get insight from Chauncey and Tracy is amazing. And Jalen, we’re simply going to have all the same conversations we would if the cameras weren’t there. Not to mention all the terrifically talented people behind the scenes who make the show as great as it is. I can’t wait for the season to start.”

Beadle, Rose, Billups and McGrady will make their official debut as a team on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN prior to ESPN’s NBA preseason game coverage. The team will make its regular-season debut during ESPN’s NBA opening week, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m.

Meet the ESPN NBA Countdown team:

• As previously announced, Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle), one of ESPN’s most talented and recognizable commentators, will host Wednesday and Friday editions of NBA Countdown. Beadle will also continue to co-host SportsNation – the popular, fan-driven daily show;
• Jalen Rose (@JalenRose), former NBA star and famed member of Michigan’s Fab Five, will return to NBA Countdown for a fifth season. Rose, one of ESPN’s top NBA voices and NBA Countdown’s mainstay analyst, will also continue to co-host ESPN Radio’s Jalen & Jacoby;
• Chauncey Billups (@1MrBigShot), former NBA Finals M.V.P. and five-time NBA All-Star, will expand his NBA Countdown analyst role this season and will be a featured analyst alongside Rose, on Wednesdays and Fridays. Billups had previously appeared on Wednesday editions of NBA Countdown last season;
• Tracy McGrady (@Real_T_Mac), seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time scoring champion, has re-signed with ESPN and will appear on Wednesday editions of NBA Countdown. McGrady will also continue to serve as an analyst for The Jump.

NBA Countdown will hit the road on select dates this season for more on-site pre-game shows. In addition, ESPN NBA commentators, including Rachel Nichols and Zach Lowe, will make contributions to NBA Countdown throughout the season.

Kevin Wildes, ESPN vice president, original content:

“NBA Countdown is an important part of the ESPN NBA viewer experience and this talented team will document the sport with style and substance throughout the season. From years of working with Michelle, I know her passion and enthusiasm for the NBA is off the charts. When you add in some serious star power and expert analysis from names like Chauncey Billups, Jalen Rose and Tracy McGrady, you have a recipe for success.”

As also previously announced, Sage Steele, will host the NBA Countdown weekend shows on ABC, which begin in January with the start of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC and the ABC NBA Sunday Showcase. The full commentator team for the weekend ABC shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

NBA Countdown is produced from ESPN’s Los Angeles Production Center at L.A. Live.

-30-

Media contacts: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or [email protected]. On twitter: @Ben_ESPN.

Gianina Thompson at 860-766-7022 or [email protected]. On twitter: @Gianina_ESPN.