Plenty of former professional basketball players have transitioned into analyst roles after their playing careers ended, but Jalen Rose has remained one of the NBA media’s most respected voices for the past two decades.
As one of the industry’s most recognizable analysts, Rose has never been afraid to speak his mind, whether he’s weighing in on the league itself or the people who cover it.
Jalen Rose Criticizes Modern NBA Coverage
On Monday, Rose sent a strong message on how he feels NBA coverage has taken a turn for the worse.
“NBA coverage has become so weak. It’s now (led) by men/women who didn’t play or LeBron stans/former teammates,” Rose wrote on X.
It’s hard not to see where Rose is coming from. ESPN features several of James’ former teammates on its shows, including Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson, both of whom played with James on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2010s. Not only are they featured, but they also appear on multiple programs.
But it goes beyond that. James’ agent, Rich Paul, co-hosts the “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, who never played professionally but became one of the most recognizable voices in sports media during his time alongside Stephen A. Smith on “First Take.”
One potential concern is the perception of a conflict of interest, given James’ prominence and the close relationship with his agent. At the same time, James remains one of the world’s most popular athletes, meaning many sports shows cover him regardless of the news cycle.
That will certainly be the case with his new team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Not just because of how talented the squad is, but because his career is beginning to wind down. As such, it makes sense that some of these outlets are turning to players who played with the 22-time All-Star.
To be fair, it’s not like Rose’s assessment is entirely accurate. There are NBA alumni without connections to James who have found their voices in league coverage. There have been quite a few analysts who never played professionally, but there have also been many WNBA alumni who have transitioned into broadcasting and analyst roles, including Candace Parker, Sue Bird, Chiney Ogwumike, and Lisa Leslie.
If it’s any consolation, coverage has arguably gotten better thanks to NBC and Amazon bringing something fresh to the table. They’ve brought in plenty of former NBA and WNBA stars to enhance their coverage.
That could be just the start. Viewers have gotten annoyed by coverage that focuses on hot takes rather than thorough, compelling analysis. If Amazon and NBC make ESPN look bad, they could inspire ESPN to do even better.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
