ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski Will Miss 2022 NBA Finals Game 1 Because of COVID-19

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJune 2, 2022

BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: ESPN Analyst, Adrian Wojnarowski reports on the game between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics during Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

ESPN NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, play-by-play announcer Mike Breen and color commentator Jeff Van Gundy will all miss the network's broadcast of Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday because of COVID-19, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

ESPN confirmed those absences to Marchand, with play-by-play man Mark Jones joining color commentator Mark Jackson for the broadcast.

Breen also missed Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and Van Gundy sounded noticeably sick during that broadcast:

Jason Gay @jasongay
van gundy does not sound great <a href="https://t.co/rFMeFwFD6f">pic.twitter.com/rFMeFwFD6f</a>

Dan Wolken @DanWolken
Is Jeff Van Gundy okay? He sounds like he needs an IV of matzoh ball soup

Brad Townsend @townbrad
I hope Stan Van Gundy is in the wings to sub for Jeff, who sounds like he's not feeling so great.

Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t sound like he’s 100 percent

Marc Kestecher, Doris Burke and P.J. Carlesimo will handle ESPN's radio broadcast for Game 1.

Wojnarowski, 53, largely functions as the media company's top NBA reporter, infamous for his "Woj Bomb" breaking news reports. But he also appears on the network's NBA Countdown program, hosted by Mike Greenberg.

That show also includes Jalen Rose, Michael Wilbon and Stephen A. Smith. Magic Johnson announced that he would appear on the show for Game 1.

Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson
I’ll be joining the “NBA Countdown” on Thursday for the 1st NBA Finals game between the Warriors and Celtics.

It will be his second Countdown appearance of the season despite being announced as one of the expected analysts before the 2021-22 season.

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"There have been unexpected scheduling conflicts as Magic continues to expand his business commitments," Dave Roberts, ESPN's head of NBA and studio production, said in a statement in late May. "While our new NBA Countdown team has been exceptional this season, we have a great relationship with Magic and the door is always open to work together."