ESPN & ABC NBA analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy conference call Part One

In preparation of the 2014-15 NBA season, lead ESPN and ABC NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson discussed the start of the 2014-15 NBA season on a media conference call.

ESPN’s NBA season tips off Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. ET when the Chicago Bulls and the returning Derrick Rose visit the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. Van Gundy and Jackson will join Mike Breen – the voice of the NBA – and reporter Doris Burke for commentary.

(This is Part One of a two-part article, read Part Two HERE.)

What do you guys make of the Bulls? Derrick Rose finally had a big game the other night. Where do you assess where he’s at and his recovery and what do you expect from the Bulls this year?

MARK JACKSON:  I think for the first time in a long time, Derrick Rose looked like himself and obviously everybody was aware it was going to take some time.  But he’s an explosive talent.  He is a tremendous weapon.  He makes them a totally different basketball team and he was in attack mode.

I think adding Pau Gasol makes a difference.  You have two big guys in Gasol and [Joakim] Noah, that can make plays at the pinch post area, read off of each other, tremendous size, tremendous skill and the underrated fact that they’ve added shooting.  And I just love Taj Gibson as that back-up big guy who can impact the game from the post, get to the line and defend at a high level.  That’s a team that’s extremely dangerous and as an NBA fan, it is refreshing to see Derrick Rose back to himself.  He’s a high-quality individual and tremendous for the game.

The Grantland Basketball Hour with Bill Simmons & Jalen Rose Premieres October 23 on ESPN

ESPN will premiere The Grantland Basketball Hour on Thursday, October 23, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The first Grantland-branded television series will feature editor-in-chief Bill Simmons and ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose, along with special guests Michelle Beadle, Jeff Van Gundy, Zach Lowe and Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. During each show, Simmons, Rose and their guests will engage in dynamic conversations and offer fresh perspective on various NBA topics and trends in front of a studio audience.

New NBA television contract press conference transcript: Adam Silver, John Skipper, David Levy, Ted Leonsis

COMMISSIONER SILVER: Thank you for being here. I'm very excited to announce we are extending our partnerships with Time Warner and ESPN for another nine years. These agreements will extend our existing partnerships through the 2024 25 season, and will bring the total length of our relationships to 41 years with Turner, 23 years with ESPN and 17 years for NBA Digital with Turner.

New NBA television contract press conference transcript: Adam Silver, John Skipper, David Levy, Ted Leonsis (Part 2)

Q. Since this was done so long before the previous deals were expired, who initiated the conversations to start doing this so early?

COMMISSIONER SILVER: I'll start with that. As we always say, I think we start negotiating the day after we finished our last deal and I think it's something we're always talking about ways to expand the relationship.

I think we began more formally negotiating in February of this year. That's when we appointed both the owners Media Committee I mentioned earlier and the team presidents, and I would say we have been negotiating fairly intensively through February. As I mentioned, included some field trips down to Atlanta so we could see their production facility and what they built out for NBA TV. I wanted to make sure our owners were familiar with that.

NBA reaches new broadcast agreements with Walt Disney Co. and Turner Broadcasting System

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has expanded its partnerships with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company through new, nine-year agreements under which ABC, TNT, and ESPN will televise NBA games beginning with the 2016-17 season and running through the 2024-25 season.