NBA TV, NBA.com Suit Up for 2009 NBA Draft

NBA TV and NBA.com are feeling a draft—the 2009 NBA Draft. The league’s cable network and Website will provide all-access coverage leading up to and throughout the selection event, which will be held at the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York Thursday, June 25.

Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl will join the NBA Draft Preview Show Presented by EA SPORTS at 6 p.m. ET and the 2009 NBA Draft Recap Presented by EA SPORTS at midnight, as well as writing blogs on NBA.com entitled “Pearl’s Gems” with his insight on the NBA Draft and prospects.

Host Rick Kamla and analysts Kenny Smith, Steve Smith, and Pearl will provide instant analysis of key draft selections exclusively on NBA.com.

NBA Insider David Aldridge will be on-hand for NBA TV and NBA.com with breaking news updates about trades, and reporter Craig Sager will be on hand at MSG to interview players moments after they are selected via the EA Sports Virtual Green Room, streamed on NBA.com.

NBA assistant director of scouting Ryan Blake will be in New York to provide scouting reports and draft analysis of international players throughout the night.

NBA will also air special draft-related programming, starting with this past Thursday night’s Division Preview Shows Presented by EA Sports, in which Kamla and analysts Mike Fratello and Blake broke down each division, team-by-team, to analyze needs and possible draft strategies.

In NBA GameTime: Prospect Park, airing Monday at 7 p.m., host Andre Aldridge and Blake will take a detailed look at the NBA Draft prospects from across the country and around the world.

The next night will bring NBA GameTime: Coming Attractions at 7 p.m., in which Kamla, Smith, David Aldridge, and Blake review the NBA.com mock drafts.

NBA GameTime: Interactive Draft Room, airing Wednesday at 7 p.m., will feature Andre and David Aldridge interacting with fans during a live webcast on NBA.com from 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

And following Thursday’s draft, Division Review Shows presented by EA Sports will air Friday, June 26 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., during which Kamla and David Aldridge will break down each division, team-by-team, to examine the draft’s impact.

Finally, NBA.com will offer additional exclusive content including: player blogs from draft prospects Blake Griffin, Tyler Hansborough, and Stephen Curry; an exclusive interview with DKV Joventut player Ricky Rubio from Spain; live press conferences of the top draft selections; live draft trade chart to track team trades; prospect profiles and highlights; photo galleries; and polls and fan reaction via its Fan Voice forums.