Mark Jackson
ESPN today announced it has re-signed NBA game analyst Mark Jackson with a new multi-year deal. Jackson, who is part of the longest-tenured NBA Finals broadcast team with Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Doris Burke, will continue to provide commentary for the highest-profile games on ESPN and ABC.
Jackson is a key part of the broadcast teams for the NBA Finals, ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the Conference Finals, the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC series, and several other significant regular-season and NBA Playoffs telecasts.
“Mark’s expertise as a former head coach and former player, combined with his passion for the NBA, make him one of the best game analysts in the sport,” said Mark Gross, ESPN senior vice president, production. “Mark is beloved by NBA fans and well-respected in the basketball community. Beyond that, he’s a terrific teammate to Mike, Jeff, Doris and our entire crew.”
Jackson first joined ESPN in 2006 and provided analysis until 2011, when he accepted the head coach position with the Golden State Warriors. He returned to ESPN during the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Jackson played 17 seasons, most notably with the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. During Jackson’s first stint with the Knicks, his ESPN broadcast colleague Jeff Van Gundy served as the assistant head coach. When Jackson returned to the Knicks for the 2001-02 season, Van Gundy was the head coach for several games.
Jackson ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time assists list. He was also the 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year and is a former NBA All-Star. In broadcasting, Jackson is well known for his catchphrase, “mama, there goes that man,” referring to a player who has made a great play. The team of Jackson, Breen, Van Gundy and Burke will call their eighth NBA Finals together this June, which is a record.