One ESPN official would love to have LeBron James and Stephen Curry on their network in a role similar to what Michael Jordan has taken on with NBC Sports, but it’s not that simple.
The coverage of the NBA has been a hot-button topic of discussion among fans over the last year. The 2025 NBA Finals ratings are not doing well, despite two well-developed teams playing some excellent basketball.
Many fans feel the negative coverage has to do with the way NBA analysts criticize current players. Analysts like Stephen A. Smith have been very critical of the current generation of stars like Tyrese Haliburton.
To combat this feeling, NBC Sports, who get the rights to the NBA starting next season, is enlisting Michael Jordan, among other stars, to cover the game more engagingly.
How does ESPN plan to combat this strategy? It appears their future rests on the shoulders of LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
ESPN wants LeBron James and Stephen Curry as analysts after retirement
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Speaking in an interview with Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, ESPN’s lead NBA producer, Tim Corrigan, revealed their interest in the aging stars of the NBA.
Specifically, he mentioned LeBron James and Stephen Curry as potential future analysts, along with Chris Paul, who has dabbled in the field a little, as people who can contribute at a high level to their basketball coverage.
“We’re hopeful. You talk about those two guys (LeBron and Curry), besides their insane physical gifts and talents and all the work they’ve done, their basketball minds, we would all benefit from more exposure to that, right?”
“And I would say somebody like Chris Paul, who did a little bit with us last year, coming in and jumping in the studio and doing all that, just to spend the time, to see how they see the game and feel the game and recognize.
“There’s so many stories about LeBron knowing the call the other team’s making and telling his guys on the court, ‘Here’s what they’re going to do’ based on who’s coming on the court.”
Despite ESPN’s desires, it’s unclear if LeBron or Curry will retire in 2025, so having them join any broadcasting company could take a while.
When James does walk away from the NBA, it’s very likely that he will continue to engage with the sport while being a part of the media.
However, don’t expect him to join ESPN and be a fixture on First Take any time soon. Firstly, his beef with ESPN heavyweight and First Take regular Stephen A. Smith will dictate his decision-making.
But more importantly, LeBron already has his own media and production company, and prides his ventures on their independence from mainstream media. His ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with Steve Nash is a huge success.
James has done what many athletes hope to do: created his own independent platform, and he’s been quite successful at it, too.
LeBron James, even after retiring, will be an active voice in the basketball world. But if you were hoping to see him go head-to-head in heated debates on network TV, you might want to start tempering your expectations.