Behind the Mic: NBC Sports Recruits Jamal Crawford as Game Analyst for Network's NBA Return, NESN Go All-Female Crew for Women's Beanpot Championship

Behind the Mic: NBC Sports Recruits Jamal Crawford as Game Analyst for Network's NBA Return, NESN Go All-Female Crew for Women's Beanpot Championship By SVG Staff

Friday, January 17, 2025 - 7:05 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 signs an NBA vet to lead their return to the league in Oct. 2025, NESN will go with an all female-led production and broadcast crew for the Women's Beanpot Championship, and more.

Jamal Crawford Joins NBC Sports' NBA Coverage as Game Analyst Jamal Crawford, a 20-season NBA veteran and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, is joining NBC Sports as a lead game analyst when its coverage of the association begins in October 2025 across NBC and Peacock.

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft out of Michigan, Crawford played 20 seasons (2001-2020), a feat accomplished by only 10 other players. Known as one of the game's greatest ball handlers and one of its most productive off-the-bench players, Crawford is tied for the league record with three NBA Sixth Man of the Year awards (2010, 2014, 2016). He averaged 14.6 points per game over his career with nine teams (Chicago, New York, Golden State, Atlanta, Portland, L.A. Clippers, Minnesota, Phoenix, Brooklyn), and tallied multiple 50-point games.

I'm thrilled to join the NBC Sports family and their new NBA package, says Crawford. I grew up reenacting the game highlights that I watched on the network's classic NBA coverage, so I'm truly honored to be a part of the new broadcast team that will bring the game to a different generation of fans. NBC Sports' productions are top-notch across the board, and I can't wait for hoop fans to see what we have in store for the new era of basketball content.

Following his retirement in 2022, Crawford began his broadcasting career as a commentator for Turner Sports and NBA TV. He is currently part of MSG Network's coverage of the New York Knicks.

Jamal's passion, curiosity, and deep basketball insights are seamlessly translating to his role as a next-generation game analyst, adds Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. As one of the best sixth men in NBA history, he mastered the art of reading the flow of the game before stepping on the court - a skill that will make an exciting transition to his new courtside seat. We're thrilled to have him in starting lineup for Team NBC.

Crawford is expected to work one or more games per week when NBC Sports' NBA coverage begins in October 2025.

NESN Opts for Female-Led Production, Broadcast Crew for Women's Beanpot Championship NESN will broadcast the Dunkin' Women's Beanpot championship and third-place games with a female-led production team and an all-female broadcast crew for the second straight year. Scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21, the third-place game between Boston College vs. Harvard at 4:30 p.m. ET and the championship game between Boston University v. Northeastern at 7:30 p.m. ET will further NESN's commitment to championing women's sports, in front of and behind the camera, through its Women of NESN (WON) initiative.

The production and broadcast crew includes:

Producer, Amy Kaplan: A 14-year NESN producer, currently serving as coordinating producer for the Red Sox.

Director, Janet Bryan: Veteran senior studio director and operations supervisor with 14 years at NESN.

Studio Producer, Anna Gregoire: Senior Content Producer/Remote Elements Producer at NESN with experience directing live broadcasts for Boston University Athletics, DraftKings, and NESN, including coverage of Bruins and Red Sox games.

Studio Director, Jennie Arruda: Director/Technical Director at NESN who led the launch of Boston Globe Today.

Studio Host, Natalie Noury: PWHL and Hockey East rinkside reporter, and Worcester Red Sox sideline reporter.

Studio Analyst, Carson Duggan: Former collegiate hockey standout and coach, now a color commentator for NESN and Hockey East.

Studio Analyst, Gigi Marvin: Three-time Olympic medalist, seven-time U.S. Women's National Team member and former PWHL Boston Fleet player.

Play-by-Play Analyst, Bridgette Proulx: Experienced Hockey East play-by-play broadcaster, Bruins writer, and co-host of WEEI's The Skate Pod.

Color analyst, Sonny Sgagliardich: Former Providence College player and 18-year sideline reporter and color commentator for Hockey East.

Rinkside reporter, Laura Stickell: Host of Respect Her Game podcast and sideline reporter for NESN, Hockey East, and the Worcester Red Sox.

Hall of Fame Broadcaster Dick Vitale Returns to the Air Saturday, January 25 on ESPN Naismith Basketball and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Dick Vitale will return to the air for the first time since 2023 to call the Duke at Wake Forest men's college basketball game on Saturday, January 25 (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The legendary voice of college basketball, who has battled four different types of cancer in the past three and a half years, announced that he was cancer free on Jan. 8.

Vitale will call the ACC matchup alongside play-by-play commentator Dave O'Brien at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston Salem, N.C.

Vitale's last game assignment was nearly two years ago - on April 3, 2023, calling the international broadcast of the San Diego State vs. UConn National Championship for ESPN.

The CW Network Sets Broadcast Team for 2025 NASCAR XFINITY Series The CW Network have announced its broadcast team for the 2025 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES season. Veteran broadcaster Adam Alexander will serve as lead play-by-play announcer and will be joined by DAYTONA 500 Champion Jamie McMurray

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2025/01/17/behind-the-mic-nbc-sports-recru...
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