Rick Carlise defended Doris Burke amid rumors about her ESPN broadcasting job
Rick Carlise and Doris Burke have each had an incredible amount of staying power in basketball. Carlisle has been an NBA head coach since 2001, and his 23 seasons in the top spot on the bench rank 12th in NBA history. Burke has been working at ESPN since 1990 in various roles including color commentary in men’s and women’s college games, WNBA games, studio work for NBA games, and now calling the 2025 NBA Finals on ABC.
Before the 2025 NBA Finals got underway, there were already rumors about a booth shakeup next season, with Burke potentially being replaced. Carlise wasn’t about to let that slide without addressing it. Ahead of Game 1, Carlise went out of his way to talk about what Burke has meant to the NBA and especially women who aspire to get into broadcasting. Watch his full comments here:
Doris Burke is one of the most respected people in broadcasting. Not a debate.
With rumours swirling about her future at ESPN, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle took time before Game One of the Finals to remind people what she means to the sport. pic.twitter.com/CYQCaFBZO2
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) June 6, 2025
Here’s a transcription about what Carlise had to say about Burke:
“I saw the things that were leaked yesterday about Doris Burke,” Carlisle said. “And I just want to say a couple of things. She has changed the game for women in broadcasting. I have a daughter who just turned 21. She’s in her second year at UVA. She’s not in the basketball industry.
“But Doris is a great example of courage and putting herself out there. It was just so sad to see these reports leaked, really unnecessarily before such a celebrated event.
“Doris is a friend. I’ve asked her many times, when is she getting into coaching? She has such great knowledge. And so, there are many women who she has paved the way for.”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with all that stuff,” Carlisle continued. “I just want to say thank you to Doris for the example that she has put forth for young women like my daughter. … She has changed the game. And that’s the reason she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a couple of years ago.”
It’s rare to see an NBA head coach stand up for a media member, but that’s how much Burke has meant to the basketball community over her career. Even if she does get replaced as a color commentator in the NBA Finals, hopefully she can continue working with the network to provide the expert level of analysis fans have come to know and love over the years.
The NBA’s new broadcasting deal goes into place next season, and it’s going to shake up our viewing experience. TNT is out, and ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon are in. Whatever happens next, hopefully Doris Burke remains a critical part of NBA coverage, and eventually gets to walk away on her own terms.
