Report: JJ Redick Leading Candidate to Replace Doc Rivers with ESPN for NBA Finals

Former NBA guard JJ Redick "has emerged as the leading candidate to join Mike Breen and Doris Burke on ABC/ESPN's NBA Finals broadcast," according to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand.

The news comes after Doc Rivers left ESPN to become head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks last month, replacing Adrian Griffin.

Redick has not officially been offered a promotion, according to Marchand, and ESPN is also weighing the option of going with a duo of just Breen and Burke during the finals this summer.

Breen, Burke and Rivers were initially named ESPN's No. 1 broadcast team for the 2023-24 season and the trio of Redick, Richard Jefferson and Ryan Ruocco was promoted to the No. 2 team.

Redick began his sports media career before retiring from the NBA in September 2021. He started his podcast, The Old Man And The Three, in 2020 and it gained popularity as the only podcast to broadcast from inside the NBA's Orlando bubble during the pandemic-altered 2019-20 campaign.

The 39-year-old joined ESPN as an analyst in November 2021.

Redick was selected 11th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2006 draft out of Duke.

He spent six-and-a-half seasons with the franchise and also suited up for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks during his 15-year career.

Redick finished his career averaging 12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 44.7 percent from the floor and 41.5 percent from deep. While he never won an NBA title or any major accolades, he was a key role player throughout his career.