Roberts pleased with changes, progress of ESPN’s NBA shows – SFGate

Dave Roberts received one of the NBAs biggest rebuilding jobs last August. Instead of being tasked with turning around a team, it was getting ESPNs studio shows and coverage back on track.

As the league comes out of the All-Star break and the push toward the playoffs intensifies, Roberts is pleased with the early results. Game viewership on ESPN is up 10%, and the new NBA Today studio show has seen a 35% increase.

I think that were on the right track, Roberts said. Were not all the way there but the teams, both in the studio and on the game side, have done a good job of working together and being a cohesive group. And I think that the early results are pretty positive.

Last August, Roberts was named ESPNs senior vice president for NBA and studio production. The move came one month after it was reported Rachel Nichols was accidentally recorded while in the Orlando bubble suggesting colleague Maria Taylors promotion to host the 2020 NBA Finals was diversity-related.

The New York Times report came two days before last years NBA Finals detailed the comments. It also came less than three weeks before Taylors contract was set to expire with ESPN and after she rejected an extension.

Nichols was pulled from NBA Finals game coverage. After the championship series concluded, Taylor signed with NBC.

Nichols The Jump also ended its run after Roberts took over. It was replaced with NBA Today.

Roberts took over after the Finals and met with the networks NBA unit during the Vegas Summer League with a simple message he would be accessible and involved, but wouldnt micromanage.

Roberts goal with NBA Today was to make sure it wasnt The Jump 2.0.

NBA Today has thrived with Malika Andrews as host. Andrews has been one of ESPNs rising stars for the past two years and took over as the sideline reporter for the Finals last year in place of Nichols.

Andrews who also does sideline reporting during some games has been a quick study in getting commentators on set involved in conversations and quickly pivot when news develops. Roberts lauded Andrews performance during the Feb. 10 trade deadline special. That was the most-watched NBA Today episode with 544,000 viewers.

NBA Today overall is averaging 334,000 viewers.

Shes poised, shes prepared, and shes committed to the journalism part of what were doing, Roberts said. She can operate as an excellent point guard, if you will, to make everyone else on that set better. That commodity is central to doing those types of ensemble programs. It also has to be insightful, fun and entertaining.

Roberts turned to familiar faces for NBA Countdown. After Taylors departure, Mike Greenberg took over as host, and Stephen A. Smith received a more prominent role with Michael Wilbon and Jalen Rose.

Besides working with them on NBA, Roberts oversees Greenberg and Smiths morning shows and ESPNs Audio Network.

We wanted to get the biggest brand names that we have covering the NBA together, Roberts said. And then you have Mike, who I believe is one of the best hosts of any content in the industry who can corral all of those big personalities to make a cohesive high-impact program.

Roberts has also been pleased with the development of analysts JJ Reddick and Vince Carter, and getting most of the networks key announcers, and analysts signed to long-term contracts.

Im proud of our teams efforts to reimagine NBA coverage this season under Daves strong leadership, said Jimmy Pitaro, the chairman of ESPN and sports content. We have built upon our solid foundation by adding distinctive content and dynamic personalities, and its resonating with fans.

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Roberts pleased with changes, progress of ESPN's NBA shows - SFGate