Rick Carlisle Defends Doris Burke Amid ESPN Broadcast Role Uncertainty Before NBA Finals

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle publicly defended ESPN broadcaster Doris Burke amid reports that she may lose her spot on the network's top NBA broadcast team next season. Carlisle praised Burke for her groundbreaking role in sports media, highlighting her courage and influence as a trailblazer for women in broadcasting, and expressed personal admiration as a friend and inspiration to his daughter. The Athletic reported that while Mike Breen is signed long-term, Burke and Richard Jefferson are out of contract, with ESPN considering changes to reduce the three-person booth setup. Carlisle criticized the timing and nature of the leaked reports as unnecessary and disrespectful ahead of the NBA Finals, emphasizing Burke's deep basketball knowledge and impact on women in the industry. Despite rumors about Burke's future with ESPN, she continues to call the 2025 NBA Finals alongside Breen and Jefferson. Carlisle's remarks underline a broad support for Burke and skepticism about ESPN's potential decision to remove her from the lead broadcast team.