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ESPN once boasted an iconic NBA Finals commentary team led by play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, who was known for his explosive "Bang!" exclamations during key moments. Beside him were analyst Jeff Van Gundy, providing keen insights from a coach's perspective, and Mark Jackson, contributing the player's point of view with memorable catchphrases. However, everything changed during the summer of 2023 when ESPN controversially dismissed Van Gundy and Jackson in a wave of budget cuts—a decision that baffled many and still raises eyebrows to this day.

Fast forward to the current NBA Finals, featuring a series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, and ESPN has yet another new commentary lineup. Mike Breen is now joined by Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson, marking their first Finals together as a trio. Their future as a team remains uncertain, contingent on contract negotiations and internal evaluations.

After dismissing Van Gundy and Jackson, ESPN promoted Burke to its No. 1 team and initially brought on Doc Rivers. Rivers, however, quickly returned to coaching with the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving Breen to humorously thank him for his brief "many weeks of service." Subsequently, JJ Redick joined the team but didn't have much time to build chemistry before he too left, opting to coach the Lakers.

Despite intending to re-sign Jefferson whose contract is expiring soon, ESPN faces potential competition from Amazon Prime Video, which has shown interest in him. While Breen remains secure in his long-term contract, Burke's position for the next season is not guaranteed, prompting further deliberations within ESPN's executive team about the best configuration for their commentary teams.

This constant churn has left Breen struggling to recreate the magic he had with Van Gundy and Jackson. Known as one of the best NBA play-by-players, Breen has called more Finals games than any other announcer on TV. Yet, the analyst dynamics around him have faltered, causing him to take on more of the commentary load without significantly enhancing his partners' contributions.

ESPN’s decision to replace Van Gundy and Jackson initially cited Van Gundy’s supposed interest in returning to coaching. Ironically, he ended up back on TV until last year's shakeup, after which he became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. Rivers and Redick both quickly departed for coaching gigs, which could have been anticipated given Van Gundy's similar ambitions.

Richard Jefferson has shown promise as an analyst, bringing humor to the booth, but he was bypassed for Redick last year. ESPN delayed naming Redick’s replacement, which hindered the development of strong on-air chemistry pre-Finals. Many argue that Jefferson should have been given more time to gel with Breen and Burke during the regular season.

Despite her accomplishments and Hall of Fame status, Doris Burke has not found the same synergy with Breen in the three-person format. ESPN's delay in solidifying its lineup further complicated matters. The team dynamic has struggled, with each member still figuring out their roles during these critical Finals games.

ESPN has faced criticism for not nurturing a deep bench of game analysts and relying on college basketball experts like Jay Bilas for playoff games. Executives are considering Tim Legler as a potential future Finals analyst.

In summary, ESPN's attempts to recreate its once-successful NBA Finals commentary team have been fraught with missteps and uncertainties. As the Finals unfold, the network's current trio of Breen, Burke, and Jefferson continue to seek the elusive chemistry that once defined ESPN's NBA broadcasts.