Behind the Mic: Mike Tirico Returns as the Voice of the NBA on NBC Sports; Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith Reportedly Re-Sign With TNT Sports

Behind the Mic: Mike Tirico Returns as the Voice of the NBA on NBC Sports; Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith Reportedly Re-Sign With TNT Sports By SVG Staff

Friday, January 24, 2025 - 9:30 am

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Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, NBC Sports assigns Mike Tirico as the lead play-by-play voice of NBA broadcasts, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith are reportedly re-signing with TNT Sports, and more.

Mike Tirico To Serve as Lead Play-By-Play Voice for NBC Sports' NBA Coverage Mike Tirico, who called NBA games for 15 seasons for ESPN from 2002-2016, is returning to the NBA as NBC Sports' lead play-by-play voice when its coverage of the association begins with the 2025-26 season this October across NBC and Peacock.

Tirico is the voice of many of NBC Sports' biggest events, serving as its Olympics primetime host and the play-by-play voice for Sunday Night Football, pacing to be primetime television's No. 1 show for a record 14 consecutive years. Since joining NBC Sports in 2016, Tirico has also hosted or called high-profile events such as the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final, U.S. Olympic Team Trials, golf's U.S. Open, Open Championship, THE PLAYERS, and TOUR Championship, and more.

I could not be more thrilled about returning courtside to call NBA games, says Tirico. My 15 years of chronicling the best basketball players in the world still stands as one of the highlights of my career. Like so many others, my love of the league took hold during the unforgettable days of the NBA on NBC back in the '90s. The chance to be a part of the team bringing that iconic partnership back to life has us incredibly excited.

He is expected to work one or more games per week once NBC Sports' coverage of the NFL and Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games conclude in February 2026. He will call select games prior to that time, including the NBA season opener in October 2025.

We are excited that Big Event Mike Tirico will be returning to his courtside seat as the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock, says Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. From the Olympics to Sunday Night Football to major golf championships and now the NBA, Mike is the most versatile voice in sports.

Tirico has extensive NBA experience, calling about 375 regular-season and playoff games from 2002-2016 for ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Radio. From 2003-2005, Tirico was the main studio host for ESPN's coverage, including the NBA Finals and the presentation of the Larry O'Brien Trophy to the NBA champions. Additionally, in 2007-2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as the play-by-play voice of the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio.

Report: Shaq and Kenny Smith Re-Signing with TNT Sports Both Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith are on the verge of re-signing with TNT Sports, according to CNBC. O'Neal will sign a five-year contract. Smith will ink a multiyear deal, as well. Inside the NBA got a reprieve in November, when ESPN agreed to license the program from TNT Sports. Warner Bros. Discovery will no longer have NBA game rights after this season in the U.S., so the company struck a deal with Disney to keep the popular studio show going. CNC reports that O'Neal, Smith, and Charles Barkley talked to new NBA rightsholders NBC and Amazon, but will end up staying on Inside the NBA.

Mike Golic, Mike Golic Jr. Departing DraftKings Network Mike Golic and his son, Mike Golic Jr. are departing the DraftKings Network in the coming months, according to Front Office Sports. GoJo & Golic streams daily for two hours in the morning on the DraftKings Network, which is available to stream on Samsung TV Plus, Roku Channel, Sling Freestream, and Google TV for free.

Mike Golic joined DraftKings in 2021, and Golic Jr. followed in 2022. Both had previously been at ESPN, where Golic Sr. spent 25 years and was best known for his 17-year run hosting Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio morning drive with Mike Greenberg.

Connor McKnight Joins Chicago Sports Network The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Connor McKnight will join the White Sox' broadcasts on Chicago Sports Network this season, ending his four-year run as studio host on the team's radio flagship, ESPN 1000. McKnight will serve as the team insider, reporting from the field and appearing on CHSN shows. He also will fill in on play-by-play for TV and radio broadcasts.

CBS Sports Network Launching New Weekly Basketball Show Hosted by Ashley Nicole Moss Ashley Nicole Moss will host a new weekly basketball show - Triple Threat - on CBS Sports Network. The show, which debuted on Jan. 22, will air Wednesdays at 1 p.m. ET and will also be accessible on the CBS Sports YouTube page. Moss is an analyst for CBS Sports HQ and formerly hosted the web series Laces Out and the podcast Certified Buckets. She was featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30 in Sports for 2023.

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/01/24/behind-the-mic-mike-tirico-retu...
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