NBA news: A lot of folks on ESPN lost their jobs this summer. Most of them were high-profile names too, including the likes of Mark Jackson, Jalen Rose, and Stan Van Gundy, to name a few. One of the employees that was spared from the purge is former Milwaukee Bucks sharpshooter JJ Redick, who himself recently opened up about the massive round of layoffs.
NBA News: JJ Redick Gets Real on ESPN Layoffs
This is obviously close to Redick’s heart as he was forced to say goodbye to some of his closest friends in the broadcasting industry. The 39-year-old admitted that coming in to work just won’t be the same:
“It’s going to be a little weird, for sure. I felt like Mark (Jackson) and Jeff (Van Gundy) and Mike (Breen) is just such an iconic team. And they’ve been on the call for so many historic moments, at least historic moments in my generation. So It’s gonna be weird,” Redick told Andrew Cohen of Front Office Sports. “I think any time something like this happens, we made cuts in March that were sort of off-air talents on the production side, I just feel for the people and wish them the best. It sucks. It’s my first time in this world going through this cycle, it hurts to see people you work with and care about lose their jobs. Most of them will be fine.”
ESPN is clearly trying to cut costs heading into the new season, and it resulted in some high-profile personalities getting the axe. Redick can count himself lucky as one of the employees who will remain with the network giants beyond the summer. In fact, it seems like he’s primed for a move up.
NBA News: JJ Redick Primed to Step Up Amid Massive Layoffs
According to previous reports, Redick’s name has emerged as a potential replacement for Jeff Van Gundy on ESPN’s top NBA broadcast team. This means that the former Bucks guard could be in line to be part of the NBA Finals coverage alongside Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen. Other names that are also in play reportedly include Doris Burke, former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers, as well as another former Milwaukee player in Richard Jefferson.
For now, however, Redick is just keeping his head down:
“I called 25 games last year, so that’s in my contract and ultimately probably where I want to spend the majority of my time,” Redick said. “But right now, I’m happy to do ‘First Take’ and call games.”
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