Another elite play-by-play broadcaster could be joining Amazon’s rapidly growing stable of NBA talents.
Kevin Harlan and Amazon are in serious talks about partnering up next season when the NBA debuts on Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Harlan is an extremely popular announcer, who has called the NBA for TNT for nearly 30 years. He also calls NFL on CBS, the NCAA tournament for CBS/TNT, and Monday Night Football on the radio for Westwood One.
A deal with Amazon has not been finalized, sources said. An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment.
The Athletic first reported that Harlan and Amazon were closing in on a deal.
The NBA will depart its longstanding partnership with TNT after this season concludes and join Amazon and NBC.
Ian Eagle is expected to be Amazon’s top play-by announcer, and the company has already announced that Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki, and Blake Griffin will be a part of the studio team.
FOS’s Michael McCarthy has previously reported Carmelo Anthony is a candidate to join Amazon’s or NBC’s NBA coverage as a color commentator.
ESPN/ABC, NBC, and Amazon are combining to pay $77 billion on an 11-year NBA rights deal.
The foray into the NBA follows Amazon’s successful entry into the NFL’s Thursday Night Football package.
NBC is expected to have Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle as its top two play-by-play announcers when it resumes NBA coverage next season after having lost the package in 2002.
