Spike Lee to Direct and Appear in Broadcast Opens for 2021 NBA Finals on ABC

Award winning filmmaker Spike Lee will direct and appear in a series of new broadcast opens airing during the 2021 NBA Finals.

Via ESPN

Via ESPN

What’s Happening:

  • ESPN has announced that Spike Lee will direct and appear in the broadcast opens for the 2021 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.
  • The first open debuts next week for Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
  • Each game will air one of the four episodes inspired by the NBA legends of both yesterday and today.
  • With a nod to Lee’s classic movies, the 2021 NBA Finals broadcast opens take advantage of a mixed media approach while incorporating both historical highlights and the style of the players who have impacted the Finals.

What They’re Saying:

  • Spike Lee: “As a basketball aficionado and an orange and blue faithful it is my honor and pleasure to direct the NBA Finals opens. I thank Commissioner Adam Silver, ESPN and ABC for giving me the opportunity to do what I love — sports and cinema. YA-DIG? SHO-NUFF.”
  • ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer, Julie McGlone: “Spike is an NBA fan and loves the history of the game. He was at Madison Square Garden for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals and recalls every detail about Willis Reed and the Knicks. Spike describes these moments as a fan certainly, but also an active participant of great NBA Finals Championship moments.”

Creative Team:

  • ESPN will exclusively produce the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV on ABC for the 19th consecutive season.