Behind the Mic: Jamal Crawford to Join NBA on TNT Tuesday, Host & Commentator Bomani Jones Signs New Contract Extension with ESPN

Behind the Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Jamal Crawford to Join Warner Bros. Discovery Sports as NBA Analyst for NBA on TNT Tuesday & NBA TV Center Court Franchises, Host & Commentator Bomani Jones Signs New Contract Extension with ESPN, and more.

Jamal Crawford to Join Warner Bros. Discovery Sports as NBA Analyst for NBA on TNT Tuesday & NBA TV Center Court Franchises

Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has announced that Jamal Crawford – one of the NBA’s most highly-regarded playmakers – has agreed to a multiyear deal which will see the three-time Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year featured as an NBA analyst across TNT, NBA TV and social media platforms.

As part of his new role, Crawford will serve as a regular studio analyst for NBA on TNT Tuesday appearing alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker and Adam Lefkoe. The NBA on TNT Tuesday franchise, a two-time Sports Emmy winner for outstanding interactive experience (original programming), returns weekly starting in January.

Beginning later this month, Crawford will be featured regularly on NBA TV Center Court. The weekly franchise – starting Thursday, Oct. 27 – is the network’s marquee night of live programming, incorporating enhanced viewing options, such as unique camera angles, next-gen analytics and social media integrations into the originally produced telecast. He will also appear regularly on NBA TV’s signature studio show, NBA GameTime.

NBA Twitter Live’s coverage of NBA Opening Night on Tuesday, Oct. 18, will be Crawford’s first appearance of the season. Crawford – one of the NBA’s most active voices on Twitter – will also contribute to select games throughout the season.

Host & Commentator Bomani Jones Signs New Contract Extension with ESPN 

ESPN and host and commentator Bomani Jones have agreed to a new contract extension. Jones will continue to lead his popular ESPN Podcast, The Right Time with Bomani Jones, three times per week.

Jones will continue to make regular guest appearances across ESPN Radio’s sports talk programming. He will also continue to be a key contributor across ESPN’s television studio lineup, including SportsCenter, First Take, Pardon the Interruption and more.

Commentary Teams for 2022 MLB Wild Card Series Exclusively on ESPN Platforms

Bally Sports Southeast Adds George Lynch To Charlotte Hornets Broadcast Team

Bally Sports Southeast announced former Charlotte Hornets player and North Carolina Tar Heel George Lynch as analyst for the network’s Hornets LIVE pre- and postgame shows.

Lynch will make his network debut on Friday, October 21 during a special one-hour edition of Hornets LIVE pregame. He will join host Ashley ShahAhmadi on the desk prior to the Hornets’ home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans at 6 p.m. ET. Play-by-play announcer Eric Collins and analyst Dell Curry will call the game.

FOX Sports Reveals Star-Studded Broadcast Team for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

FOX Sports, America’s official English-language home for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, today celebrates the fast-approaching start to the world’s greatest sporting event with a picture-perfect unveiling of its world-class broadcast team anchoring the network’s comprehensive tournament coverage. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ begins on Sunday, Nov. 20 with a majority of the group stage matches featuring 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM ET start times through the FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Five incredibly unique announce teams comprise FOX Sports’ roster of play-by-play commentators and match analysts calling matches at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The dynamic John Strong and former U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) star Stu Holden anchor the lead broadcast booth for FOX Sports. The Strong-Holden pairing has called more than 250 soccer matches together since 2014 – more than any other English-language television duo – and will surpass the 300-match mark in Qatar. Veteran play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera pairs with former USMNT legend Cobi Jones, while former U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) sensation Aly Wagner partners with the distinguished Derek Rae. The Rae-Wagner pairing reunites in Qatar after successfully calling matches together for the men’s tournament in 2018. In a serendipitous assignment, the venerable Ian Darke makes his FOX Sports play-by-play debut alongside USMNT icon Landon Donovan. In 2010, Darke captured the hearts of American soccer fans when he called Donovan’s memorable injury-time goal for the U.S. against Algeria. Former England defender Warren Barton joins the esteemed Jacqui Oatley to round out the announcer pairings. Match assignments will be announced before the tournament begins.

Lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas, along with fellow U.S. soccer legends Clint Dempsey, Carli Lloyd and Maurice Edu, headline FOX Sports’ list of former soccer stars providing expert insights at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Two former goal-scoring machines for the England Women’s National Team, Eni Aluko and Kelly Smith, join the studio analyst roster with their perspectives, while former NFL star Chad Johnson makes his FOX Sports debut as a contributing analyst.

Rob Stone returns as lead host for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ anchoring studio coverage throughout the tournament from the FOX Sports set in Doha, while acclaimed host Kate Abdo is back as lead host of FIFA WORLD CUP TONIGHT. Trusted reporters covering all the FIFA World Cup™ action include Jenny Taft, Rodolfo Landeros and Geoff Shreeves. Tom Rinaldi, 17-time Emmy Award winning storyteller, joins as a reporter and feature correspondent for the first FIFA World Cup™ of his career. Finally, FOX Sports will bring two acclaimed rules analysts to Qatar in former referees Dr. Joe Machnik and Mark Clattenburg.