• Loading stock data...
Saturday, November 2, 2024
The Best Employers in Sports survey is open through Nov. 6 Learn More

NBA Draft Is Getting the NFL Draft Treatment From ESPN, ABC

  • ABC will lean into background storytelling of players compared to ESPN’s analysis-focused broadcast.
  • Renaissance man Victor Wembanyama loves to draw, read as detailed in his interview with Robin Roberts.
ABC's broadcast will air Robin Roberts' full interview with Victor Wembanyama.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Robin Roberts’ interview with Victor Wembanyama — the NBA’s most-hyped prospect since LeBron James — airs Thursday night on ABC as part of its NBA Draft broadcast.

Separate broadcasts of Thursday’s first round will air on ABC and ESPN, a model that Disney has used for the past five years with its NFL Draft coverage. While ESPN’s NBA Draft broadcast will provide more team-fit and player analysis, ABC’s coverage will focus on storytelling and interviews with players and their families. 

“If I wasn’t a basketball player I think my second passion would be drawing,” the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama told Roberts. “When I got nothing to do, the first thing my mind thinks about is to grab a pencil and a sheet of paper. I [also] love reading before sleep.” 

“You’re a Renaissance Man, meaning that you can play your sport, but you also have this really sensitive soul,” Roberts said to Wembanyana at a cafe in France. 

“SportsCenter” anchor Kevin Negandhi will host ABC’s broadcast alongside Stephen A. Smith, which begins at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN’s broadcast will be helmed by Malika Andrews with contributions from analysts Jay Bilas and JJ Redick, reporters Andraya Carter and Monica McNutt, and insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks.

Adding to this year’s draft intrigue are a bevy of expected trades — Damian Lillard and Paul George are among the stars rumored to be shopped — as well as the proliferation of top picks from the G League Ignite (Scoot Henderson, Leonard Miller), Overtime Elite (twins Amen and Ausar Thompson), and IMG Academy (Jarace Walker, Keyonte George, and Jett Howard).

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump waves flanked by former Georgia Bulldogs player Herschel Walker, recording art Kid Rock, professional golfer John Daily, Alabama senators Tommy Tuberville (R) and Katie Britt (R) during the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mission Swing State: College Football’s Political Advertising Battle

Trump, Harris, and the PACs that support them are utilizing the sport.

Rays’ Future Uncertain As Tropicana Field Repairs Begin

The Rays still don’t know where they will play in 2025.
Adam Schefter

Adam Schefter Uses Same Pirated NFL Clips As Everyone Else

ESPN’s NFL insider posted a video from an illegal stream Thursday night.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

First-Ever 12-Team CFP Takes Shape

0:00

Featured Today

The Untapped Revenue ‘Powder Keg’ of Women’s NFL Fandom

There’s a “boatload” of money at stake for brands and the league.
Oct 19, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) shakes hands while entering the locker room after a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
October 28, 2024

NIL Director Is the Trendy New Job in College Sports. But the Role Is Chaos

Athletic departments nationwide are hiring for what’s become their most important position.
FuboTV signage
opinion
October 26, 2024

Fubo’s Fight Against Streaming Giants Feels Futile

Fubo notched a legal win, but subs and stock still slump.
October 25, 2024

Inside The Wall at L.A. Clippers’ New $2B Home

FOS went inside the “contagious” energy at the L.A. Clippers’ Intuit Dome.
Fubo-TV

Fubo Reports 9% Subscriber Growth As Venu Sports Trial Looms

The sports-focused streamer grew revenue by 21%.
October 31, 2024

Comcast’s Olympic Gold: Paris Games Spark Surge in Peacock Subscribers

Company revenue and Peacock subscriptions rise thanks to a big Olympics boost.
October 31, 2024

World Series Delivers 7-Year Ratings Record, Marking MLB’s Big Comeback

Viewership of the five-game win by the Dodgers soared by 74% over last year.
Sponsored

World Series Delivers High-Demand Marquee Matchup

The hype around the World Series matchup drove ticket prices to record levels—but the Dodgers’ dominance quickly quieted the fervor.
October 30, 2024

World Series Game 4 Draws 16.7M Viewers, Up 92% From 2023

The average audience of 16.7 million nearly doubles the comparable figure from last year.
October 30, 2024

Controversy, Championship Battles Keep F1 Viewers Tuned In

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen had a controversial encounter again Sunday.
October 30, 2024

NFL TV Ratings Up and Down in October As Election Draws Near

The NFL took an 8% ratings hit around the 2016 presidential cycle.
October 29, 2024

Baseball Wins the Night: World Series Outdraws ‘Monday Night Football’

MLB gains a rare head-to-head viewership win over the NFL.