ESPN announced this week the air date for its new original program Detail, a basketball analysis show in collaboration with five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant and his Granity Studios. The show is set to debut on Thursday, April 12th, exclusively on ESPN+.
ESPN+ is the new direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from Disney in partnership with ESPN. Launching April 12th, it will be available as an integrated part of a redesigned ESPN App.
Detail, which is written, produced and hosted by the Academy Award-winning Bryant, will feature his high-level analysis and insights as he breaks down games throughout the 2018 NBA Playoffs, including the NBA Finals. Bryant will provide in-depth observations from the standpoint of a current NBA player in a game.
On a media call Wednesday, Bryant spoke on his latest endeavor and the inspiration of Detail.
“It’s important for the next generation to learn how to watch film, how to study the game. If this show were around when I was 10 years old, I would have gained so much insight and value from it. By the time I’m 22, or 25, my IQ of the game would be at a much higher level then my predecessors.”
The premiere episode of Detail will feature Bryant breaking down 2009’s Western Conference Finals Game 6, where his Lakers clinched their second consecutive NBA Finals berth. The second episode of Detail will be available on ESPN+ Sunday, April 15th, following game 1 of the 2018 NBA Playoffs
When asked his level of interest in becoming an in-studio analyst like Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, the Black Mamba was definitive.
“Zero,” he calmly expressed. “I love what I’m doing now. Coming to the office, writing, editing, creating. Building a studio was no small task. I don’t have the time to sit in a (TV) studio and do that.”
Bryant will deliver multiple episodes of Detail during the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs, leading into a heavier schedule of shows during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals (three) and the NBA Finals (up to seven). Every show will be available on ESPN+.
Discussing the NBA Playoffs and flipping the proverbial switch, Bryant expressed his mindset.
“Flipping the switch is really one team you’re focusing on, so you can really zero in on that team. You’re still playing just as hard, but in the playoffs, you only have one team to focus on,” he explained.
Segments from Detail will air on Get Up!, SportsCenter, The Jump, NBA Countdown, and across ESPN’s digital and social media platforms.
ESPN+ will offer fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. This includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, Grand Slam tennis, Top Rank boxing, PGA Tour golf, college sports, international rugby, cricket, the full library of ESPN Films (including 30 for 30) and more. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year).
