Wednesday, April 22, 2026

NBA Analyst Jalen Rose Among ESPN Layoffs

  • Rose, a former NBA player for 13 seasons, joined ESPN in 2007.
  • He’s been an analyst for ESPN shows “NBA Countdown,” “Get Up,” and co-hosted “Jalen & Jacoby.”
Rose, a former NBA player for 13 seasons, joined ESPN in 2007.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Rose has been let go by ESPN, ending his 16-year run at the company since 2007.

Rose, an NBA player from 1994 to 2006, has been a studio host for “NBA Countdown,” the pregame show that aired before game telecasts on ESPN and ABC. He also co-hosted the Jalen & Jacoby talk show that ran from 2011 until November 2022, following David Jacoby’s departure from ESPN.

Other ESPN shows to feature Rose included “Get Up” and “SportsCenter,” as well as ESPN Radio programming. He played 13 seasons in the NBA for six teams— the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Phoenix Suns. 

Before the NBA, Rose played collegiately for the University of Michigan’s iconic “Fab Five” basketball team, which was the focus of ESPN’s documentary “The Fab Five” in 2011.

Recently for ESPN, Rose delivered passionate on-air comments about his past struggles and advice to Ja Morant following the suspended NBA star’s first gun-flashing video incident. Rose then hosted a 20-minute sit-down interview with Morant. 

“I am Ja Morant. You guys have had the chance to see me grow up from public consumption since 1991,” Rose said on ESPN in March. “I’ve been involved with drug raids, I’ve survived assassination attempts. I’ve been that undisciplined young person that was trying to figure out how to be famous, how to be successful, and how to change the dynamics of my family.”

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 18, 2026; Fort Worth, TX, USA; The University of Minnesota gymnastics team poses with their trophy after finishing in fourth place in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

ESPN Defends NCAA Gymnastics Broadcast After Minnesota Backlash

Minnesota blasted ESPN for showing its routines less than other teams.
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Monday Night Football commentator Joe Buck before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
exclusive

Joe Buck Expected To Host ‘ESPN Jeopardy!’

Celebrities and ESPN talent are expected to be contestants.

2026 WNBA Draft Was Second-Most Watched in Event History

Viewership trends mirror those of the NCAA women’s basketball title game.
The Miz Stephen A. Smith WWE

ESPN Going All Out for WWE WrestleMania in Las Vegas

There has been plenty of crossover between ESPN and WWE this week.

Featured Today

Quinnipiac women's varsity rugby

The Death of Quinnipiac Women’s Varsity Rugby

The sudden decision at Ilona Maher’s alma mater left players blindsided.
April 17, 2026

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin leaves the field following an AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
April 21, 2026

Mike Tomlin Heading to NBC Sports as Studio Analyst

Tomlin was widely considered the top NFL TV free agent.
Feb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
April 21, 2026

Vrabel: Russini Photos Led to ‘Difficult Conversations’

Vrabel previously called the interactions ”completely innocent.”
Sponsored

Why Brandon Marshall Bet on Athlete-Owned Media

Brandon Marshall on athlete media, life after football, building I AM ATHLETE.
Apr 20, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) reacts after a basket against New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) during the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
April 21, 2026

NBC, Amazon Make Crucial Scorebug Errors in NBA Postseason

Both blunders involved non-existent timeouts.
Apr 8, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Kevin Hart reacts after teeing off on the eighth hole during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
April 20, 2026

The Coachella-ization of the Masters Has Golf Purists Concerned

Some recent changes at Augusta haven’t sat well with traditionalists.
Brandon Marshall Portfolio Players
April 17, 2026

Brandon Marshall Nearly Quit FS1 Over Nick Wright Argument

Marshall tells FOS he took issue with Wright’s lack of “take integrity.”
A smartphone showing the Netflix logo is held in front of a television displaying the Netflix home screen with Top 10 content rows in Paris, Ile de France, France, February 28, 2026. The scene illustrates video on demand streaming and second screen viewing on connected devices.
April 16, 2026

Netflix: There’s ‘Opportunity to Expand the Relationship’ With NFL

The streaming giant touts big results from its live sports content.