Hall of Fame broadcaster Doris Burke will be an analyst for ESPN Radio during the Conference Finals and NBA Finals, the sports network announced Wednesday.
In the process, Burke will become the first woman to call an NBA Finals game as an analyst.
This season, @ESPNNBA's @heydb to serve as game analyst for @ESPNRadio's national #NBA Finals & Conference Finals coverage@Hoophall broadcaster becomes the first woman to serve as NBA Finals game analyst on any platform
More: https://t.co/MCjSUzdiMP pic.twitter.com/RDEvTOBCpf
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) September 9, 2020
Doris Burke will join Marc Kestecher and former NBA player Jon Barry on the headset for the final two rounds of the playoffs.
But while this is indeed a tremendous achievement, it is hardly the first time Burke has made history as a broadcaster (per the ESPN Press Room):
Burke has broken barriers several times throughout her Hall of Fame broadcasting career, including in 2017 when she became the first woman to serve as a full-time NBA television game analyst on ESPN and ABC – a role she continues to hold. She was also the first woman to serve as a national college basketball game analyst on ESPN. Additionally, Burke was the first woman to receive the prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Burke is not the only one to see an expanded role during the playoffs. Longtime ESPN reporter and “The Jump” host Rachel Nichols will be a sideline reporter during the NBA Finals and Eastern Conference Finals.
For what it's worth though, Burke has overcome plenty of obstacles and adversity — both in and out of the booth. The veteran broadcaster was previously diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this spring, but she made a full recovery and returned to lend her voice to these postseason.
Burke is well-liked and respected among the players, and she certainly has the respect of her peers in the industry.
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