NBA Draft announcers 2026: Meet the ABC and ESPN broadcast crews, from Kenny Smith to Jay Bilas

· Yahoo Sports

NBA Draft announcers 2026: Meet the ABC and ESPN broadcast crews, from Kenny Smith to Jay Bilas originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Visit betsport.cv for more information.

After a brief break in NBA action since the New York Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, the NBA is back with the 2026 NBA Draft. Both ESPN and ABC will have broadcast rosters covered with prominent talents that include some of the most notable insiders around the basketball world.

Familiar faces like Shams Charania and Jay Bilas will blend with former basketball players like Iman Shumpert. Many fans have been asking who they will be seeing on ESPN and ABC, and how the broadcast's coverage angles will differ.

Here's what the broadcast desks will look like for this year's NBA Draft in Brooklyn.

2026 NBA DRAFT HQ: Live picks tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still available

    Who are the 2026 NBA Draft announcers?

    This year's NBA Draft will be split under the ESPN umbrella on the main ESPN channel and ABC, according to ESPN Press Room. Kevin Negandhi will host ABC's coverage, while Malika Andrews will head the ESPN desk for Tuesday night's first round. The ABC broadcast will feature special guests, such as the draftees and their families, while ESPN's will have a more analytical angle with insights from Shams Charania, Bobby Marks, and Fran Fraschilla.

    Wednesday's second round will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN. Malika Andrews will serve as host again, alongside former basketball players Iman Shumpert and King McClure, with insights from Jay Bilas, Brian Windhorst, and another round with Marks, Charania, and Fraschilla.

    Here is the breakdown of hosts, analysts, insiders, and reporters who will be on the desk for the draft broadcasts.

    Round 1

    NetworkHostAnalystsInsiderReporterABCKevin NegandhiKenny Smith, Jay Williams, and Richard JeffersonESPNMalika AndrewsJay Bilas, Tim Legler, and Andraya CarterBobby Marks, Shams Charania, and Fran FraschillaLisa Salters

    Kevin Negandhi

    For those who watch ESPN, Negandhi is the definition of a familiar face. He is most known for his role on SportsCenter. He has ample experience across the sports world, including the NFL, MLB, Outside the Lines, college football, NBA, and the women’s NCAA basketball Final Four since joining ESPN in 2017.

    Kenny Smith

    Smith is best known for his role on the Inside the NBA show, which was newly adopted by ESPN this year. The two-time NBA champion provides premier insights from his playing days, and viewers can count on him consistently delivering valuable bits of information. This time, however, he won't have Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Charles Barkley surrounding him.

    Jay Williams

    Williams is another basketball analyst who frequents the ESPN platform. He is currently a part of the Keyshawn, JWill and Max show, while also serving as a regular on other ESPN programming on the Get Up, First Take, and The Jump shows. He was selected No. 2 overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.

    Richard Jefferson

    Rounding out ABC's broadcast team will be 2016 NBA Champion Richard Jefferson. The former NBA forward joined ESPN in 2019 as an NBA analyst, and regularly appears on NBA Today, NBA Countdown, First Take, Get Up, SportsCenter, and Hoop Streams. He has also been a part of the NBA Finals broadcast since 2025.

    Round 2

    NetworkHostAnalystsInsiderReporterESPNMalika AndrewsJay Bilas, Brian Windhorst, Iman Shumpert, and King McClureBobby Marks, Shams Charania, and Fran FraschillaVanessa Richardson

    MORE 2026 NBA DRAFT NEWS:

    When is the 2026 NBA Draft?

    The first round of the draft starts on Tuesday, June 23, at 8 p.m ET. The second round will begin on Friday, also at 8 p.m. ET.

    DateRound(s)Start time (ET)June 2318 p.m.June 2428 p.m.

    How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft

    • TV channels: ABC, ESPN
    • Live stream: ESPN+

    Each day of the draft will feature coverage on two different networks, ABC and ESPN. There is also a live stream available via ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

    Read full story at source