When you want to know the latest basketball scores, you can turn to ESPN. The network is home to the NBA and has a great variety of games available on their broadcasts. If you don’t subscribe to cable, you can still watch games online through the ESPN+ platform. Here’s what you need to know about the network and its coverage.
ABC is the broadcast home of the NBA
As of the 2014-15 NBA season, ABC is the broadcast home of the National Basketball Association. While ESPN will air up to 44 telecasts during the NBA playoffs, the rest of the regular season games are exclusive to ABC.
In addition to being the home of the NBA Finals, ABC also airs special prime-time playoff games. Typically, these will air on Friday or Saturday nights. Since the playoffs are played on weekends, the first-round games may co-exist with other regional sports networks. The telecasts will include blockbuster matchups.
ABC and ESPN will broadcast a total of 100 regular-season games during the 2022-2023 campaign. This schedule will feature blockbuster matchups and the game’s top superstars.
When ESPN and ABC are working together, the live-action will be accompanied by “Nine Lives” by Def Leppard and Tim McGraw. Originally used during the regular season, this theme music was used by both networks in the postseason.
Announcing teams remain stable
If you’re a fan of the NBA or just like to watch games, you’re probably aware of ESPN’s announcing lineup. While the coverage may be a mixed bag, the quality of the broadcast is usually more than adequate. The competition for broadcasters is tough, and ESPN has managed to whittle its numbers down significantly over the past several years.
There are a number of notable absences amongst ESPN’s basketball coverage staff, including Bill Laimbeer, who left the network to join the WNBA. Others who were dropped include Dan Majerle, who served as the primary play-by-play guy, and Greg Gumbel, who was the king of the network’s studio. For the most part, the mainline teams have remained stable, with the exception of a handful of oddballs.
A new graphics package debuted during the 2013 Western Conference Finals
A new graphics package was on display in the Western Conference Finals, and it was a good one. The big showdown was the revamped New York Knicks, who took on the Houston Rockets in what is sure to be a memorable game.
ESPN has been tasked with the telecasting duties of the NBA’s most storied franchise for a decade and a half, and the quality of the coverage has been nothing short of stellar. To wit, a nine-year extension was negotiated on the strength of the production team’s ability to crank out the sexiest games of the season. With the exception of the 2010-2011 playoffs, the company has never missed an opportunity to showcase its finest. In addition to the aforementioned sexiest game, the network has opted for a revamped logo, a more streamlined lineup of marquee players, and even a few new marquee venues.
ESPN2 airs games that otherwise would not have appeared on another outlet other than NBA TV
In addition to airing NBA games, ESPN2 airs other games that are not available on other outlets. This includes games during the first round of the playoffs, as well as the WNBA finals. Some of these games are national, but others are local.
The NBA was in a major downturn, but cable helped basketball rebound. Among other things, a three-point line was introduced in the 1979-1980 season. However, it took a few seasons for the line to become widely used.
In 2003, ESPN aired the final game of Michael Jordan’s NBA career. ESPN2 also aired a game that was not available on other outlets: Kobe Bryant’s final game against the Utah Jazz.
After the lockout, ratings declined significantly. ESPN reshuffled its announcing team. Bill Walton and Dan Majerle were dropped from the coverage, and Sean Elliott was promoted to lead broadcaster.
Stream exclusive live sports and ESPN+ Originals without cable
If you’re looking for an alternative to cable television, you’ll definitely want to check out ESPN+. The service provides the latest in live sports from around the world. You can stream the service on mobile devices, computers, and even TV. It’s a good option for fans of basketball, hockey, and cricket.
One of the reasons it’s a popular option is that it’s a lot less expensive than traditional cable subscriptions. The subscription costs about $9.06 a month, compared to about $40 for some cable packages.
While there are other services that offer more for the money, ESPN is one of the few to have a free app for iOS, Android, and Windows phones. Plus, it offers an abundance of content, from live sports to on-demand videos. This includes ESPN’s flagship E:60 series and hit movies like O.J.: Made in America.