When Jalen Rose was laid off as part of a deluge of talent being let go from ESPN, a seat on the coveted NBA Countdown desk suddenly became open. Speculation has permeated social media channels and conversations among basketball fans and sports media pundits, with names such as Doris Burke and JJ Redick being offered as possibilities. Kendrick Perkins, who played for four teams during his 14 seasons in the NBA and has since become a venerable analyst for ESPN, is reportedly in strong consideration to fill that seat, as reported by Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports.
Perkins has frequently appeared on ESPN studio programming, including Get Up with Mike Greenberg and First Take with Stephen A. Smith, granting him familiarity with two-thirds of the panel. He inked a multi-year extension with ESPN in 2021 and has seemingly survived a round of talent layoffs where some basketball fans called for his departure.
Aside from Perkins, there are various other possibilities to take over Rose's position on NBA Countdown, including the aforementioned Redick. Other internal possibilities include Richard Jefferson and Chiney Ogwumike as the show aims to better compete with Inside the NBA on TNT. ESPN is expected to attempt to renew its NBA rights when the national media deal expires at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season amid interest from other rival brands.
ESPN laid off Jeff Van Gundy and Nick Friedell from its basketball coverage on Friday, while NBA analyst Vince Carter's contract is not expected to be renewed. The network has heavily utilized select members of its talent pool, including Greenberg, Smith and Mike Breen, to headline the NBA on ESPN and surrounding shoulder programs.
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