ESPN Reaches Multi-Year Agreement with Doug Collins

Veteran NBA Head Coach to Join NBA Countdown, Serve as Game Analyst

ESPN today announced it has reached a multi-year agreement with veteran NBA head coach Doug Collins. Collins will serve as an analyst on NBA Countdown - ABC and ESPN's NBA pre-game show - with Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons. In addition, he will serve as a game analyst for select telecasts on ESPN.

Collins will also make regular appearances across ESPN entities, including SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and additional news and information programming.

"ESPN's NBA coverage plays a leadership role in the way fans experience the sport, so I'm eager to share my basketball insights with our viewers," said Collins. "Working with Magic, Jalen, Bill and the rest of my new ESPN colleagues will be a lot of fun."

In addition to more regular in-studio appearances on Pardon The Interruption, veteran ESPN commentator Michael Wilbon will continue to have a significant presence on ESPN's NBA coverage across platforms. Wilbon will regularly contribute to ESPN news and information programming, including SportsCenter, where he will provide reports, analysis and offer essays on pertinent NBA topics. Wilbon will also be on site for the NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals.

John Wildhack, ESPN Executive Vice President, Production:

"Doug Collins is a one of the most respected NBA voices and we're thrilled to have him join NBA Countdown. Collins brings a contemporary coaching perspective, which will enhance the diverse discussion on Countdown. Additionally, Michael Wilbon will remain a leading authority for the NBA on ESPN while maintaining the flexibility to increase his in-studio appearances on our important Pardon The Interruption franchise."

Collins has enjoyed successful coaching and playing careers in the NBA. He served as NBA head coach for 11 seasons, most recently with the Philadelphia 76ers, and reached the NBA Playoffs seven times. In addition to his coaching success, Collins played eight seasons combined in the ABA and NBA and is a four-time All-Star. He has also made a significant impact as a television analyst. Collins has contributed to NBC's NBA game coverage and Olympics coverage and has worked as a game analyst for Turner Sports. In 2009, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, receiving the prestigious Curt Gowdy Media Award.

NBA Countdown will debut Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. ET during a special one-hour pre-game telecast, preceding ESPN's season-opening doubleheader: Miami Heat/Brooklyn Nets at 8 p.m.; San Antonio Spurs/Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m.

About NBA Countdown

NBA Countdown is the pre-game show for ESPN's NBA games on Wednesdays and Fridays and NBA Sunday game broadcasts on ABC. Countdown offers a lively, roundtable format with strong opinions, discussion and debate centered on top storylines around the league. Countdown emanates from the ESPN Los Angeles Production Center at L.A. LIVE - across the street from STAPLES Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers.