NBA Countdown, ESPN
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Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to the sports-media spotlight, and the longtime analyst made headlines again Tuesday with news that ESPN’s premier professional basketball program, NBA Countdown, will not feature his commentary this season — for the first time since he joined the show in 2003.
Disney+ has struck a multi-year deal to stream the NBA in the Philippines. This will bring live coverage to Disney+ and ESPN in the country for the first time, along with ESPN documentaries and live broadcasts of NBA Countdown.
Kenny Smith can double dip with Inside the NBA and NBA Countdown on ESPN, as long as he’s prepared to feel the wrath of Shaquille O’Neal. ESPN might be making good on their promise to not interfere with Inside the NBA.
One of the most significant changes is the addition of Brian Windhorst, a senior writer who has signed a multi-year extension with ESPN. Windhorst’s extensive knowledge of the NBA landscape positions him as a valuable asset to the NBA Countdown panel.