Amazon’s NBA Streaming Plans: Al Michaels Rules Out Return to NBA Coverage
Legendary broadcaster Al Michaels has revealed that he won’t be involved in Amazon’s upcoming NBA coverage, despite the company’s massive $1.8 billion deal with the NBA. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Michaels, who currently works for Amazon as the voice of its “Thursday Night Football” NFL coverage, shot down the possibility of a return to NBA coverage when Amazon begins airing games in 2025.
Michaels, 79, thinks Amazon should build a team that can do the job for several years rather than relying on his experience. “I don’t think so. It’s a long-term thing for Amazon, and they should put a group together that can do this for a lot of years and build. I’m sure that’s what they’re going to do. I love doing the NBA but that was a long time ago and I’m happy just to spectate next year and beyond,” he said.
The NBA owners told Michaels that the league was more comfortable selling its rights to Amazon due to the success of Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” team. Michaels also endorsed his friend Greg Kinnear to play him in Amazon’s upcoming John Madden biopic.
Few broadcasters have the breadth of experience like Michaels, who has been calling prime-time NFL games for decades, handled the World Series for years, and is responsible for perhaps the most iconic hockey call ever. He also worked NBA games for ABC from 2003 to 2005, but few consider him a legend for his work there.
The topic does inspire curiosity about the direction Amazon will take once its NBA deal goes into effect, much like the intrigue about its initial TNF team. Amazon spent big to poach a big name in Michaels from NBC and then landed on college football commentator Kirk Herbstreit to make a part-time jump to the pros.
Given the massive investment Amazon has made in the NBA, it seems likely they will want to make a splash with their new coverage.
