Behind The Mic: Four Time PGA Tour Winner Kevin Kisner to Join NBC Sports Golf Coverage as Lead Analyst
Story Highlights
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 joins MSG Networks; Prime Video releases NASCAR announcing booth; and more.
Kevin Kisner Named Lead Analyst for NBC Sports’ Golf Coverage
Four-time PGA TOUR winner Kevin Kisner has been named lead analyst for NBC Sports’ golf coverage, joining veteran play-by-play commentator Dan Hicks in the booth for its presentations of PGA TOUR events and major championships.
Kisner will serve as lead analyst for the majority of men’s golf events on NBC, including the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, the PLAYERS Championship, the FedExCup Playoffs, and the Ryder Cup. He will also maintain a limited playing schedule on the PGA TOUR.
“I’m humbled and grateful to have the chance to sit in the seat that many legends like Johnny Miller and Paul Azinger have sat in before me on NBC,” says Kisner. “I’m looking forward to offering a different voice and adding a new dynamic to the broadcasts, hopefully reaching more fans and telling things like it is. That’s what I think I do best. I’m also excited to continue to compete on the PGA TOUR amongst my peers, which I think will help me to tap into what these guys are really feeling on the course.”
“Kevin always shared frank and honest opinions about the game of golf during our various conversations through the years,” says NBC Sports’ lead golf producer Tommy Roy. “Those kinds of opinions and his engaging personality make Kiz a great fit for our broadcast team. He knows these players, he knows this game, and the audience will get to hear more of those opinions and that personality this season.”
Kisner made his debut as an analyst on NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR coverage in 2024, which included the WM Phoenix Open, The PLAYERS, and the FedExCup Playoffs. Kisner also joined Smylie Kaufman for its critically-acclaimed “Happy Hour” coverage during those events.
The Aiken, S.C., native has won four times on the PGA TOUR, including victories in the 2019 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the 2021 Wyndham Championship, was a member of the U.S. team at the Presidents Cup in 2017 and 2022, and served as a captain’s assistant at the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal.
Drew Brees, Scott Hanson in Talks to join Netflix’s Christmas Day NFL Coverage
Netflix is in talks to add Drew Brees and Scott Hanson to its broadcast lineup for the NFL doubleheader it is streaming on Christmas Day, according to Front Office Sports. Brees and Hanson are “in conversations” to contribute to Netflix’s international coverage of the Chiefs vs. Steelers and Ravens vs. Texans games. Netflix will livestream the two NFL games to 282 million paid subscribers in more than 190 countries.
Domestically, Ian Eagle, Nate Burleson, and J.J. Watt will call the early game between the Chiefs and Steelers. Noah Eagle and Greg Olsen will call the late game between the Ravens and Texans. This week, the NY Post reported Netflix was eying ESPN’s Mina Kimes for a role in its Christmas Day coverage.
Jamal Crawford Joins MSG Networks
MSG Networks, the television home of the New York Knicks, announce that former Knicks shooting guard and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year award winner Jamal Crawford will join MSG Networks as an analyst for select Knicks games throughout the 2024-25 NBA regular season, which began on Wednesday, November 20th when the Knicks visited the Phoenix Suns, with coverage beginning at 10:00pm ET. Filling in for Hall-of-Famer Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Crawford will work his first telecast on MSG Networks alongside Hall of Famer Mike Breen.
Crawford will join the broadcast booth for two other games on the Knicks road trip – November 23rd in Utah and November 25th in Denver. Coverage will begin at 5:00pm ET and 9:00pm ET respectively, on MSG Networks. Crawford will be joined by Knicks radio play-by-play announcer Tyler Murray for MSG Networks’ telecast of the Knicks vs. Utah Jazz matchup, and then will be re-joined by Mike Breen for coverage of the Knicks vs. Denver Nuggets game. Crawford is expected to work several more games for MSG Networks throughout the season.
Crawford on jumping into the MSG Networks broadcast booth:
“I’m excited about it. Obviously, nobody is Walt ‘Clyde’ [Frazier], he is one-of-one. Whether it’s ‘movin’ and groovin’ or any one of his sayings – he is a treasure. I’m just happy to sub in for him and have some fun with it.”
A former first round pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, Crawford completed an impressive twenty-year NBA career with tenures in: Chicago, New York, Golden State, Atlanta, Portland, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Phoenix, and Brooklyn. Crawford concluded his career with 19,419 points averaging 14.6 points per game. He played for the New York Knicks from 2004 to 2008 and averaged 17.6 points per game during his five-year tenure. He is the second player in NBA history to have scored 10,000+ career points off the bench and is second all-time in the NBA in career four-point plays.
Prime Video Announces 2025 NASCAR Booth
Prime Video announces their inaugural broadcast booth for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series coverage, beginning in 2025. NASCAR Hall of Famer and race analyst Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be joined by race caller Adam Alexander and race analyst Steve Letarte kicking off their coverage live at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dale, Steve and Adam as official members of the Prime Video family,” says Jared Stacy, Director of Global Live Sports Production, Prime Video. “We are excited for this group to bring their collective experience, passion and credibility to NASCAR fans as we begin our coverage next season.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. brings his authenticity and passion for the racing community back to the broadcast booth to kick off Amazon’s coverage of the NASCAR Cup series. “I’m honored to be a part of Prime Video’s entry into NASCAR,” says Earnhardt Jr. “It is an exciting opportunity to have the chance to give our NASCAR fan base yet another way to watch the sport and to be a part of the innovation that Prime Video is going to bring to our sport and the fans.”
Adam Alexander, a veteran NASCAR commentator and key figure in the sport’s broadcast landscape, joins the booth as race caller for the Prime Video team. Alexander has extensive experience across NASCAR multi-media including pit-reporter, studio, booth, radio, and digital content. He will also contribute to TNT’s NASCAR coverage.
“I’m excited to join Prime Video as we begin our coverage of the Cup Series,” says Alexander. “Dale and Steve are two of the most respected people in racing and I can’t wait to work with them.”
Steve Letarte joins the team with an expansive background within the racing community from becoming the youngest crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports to one of the most respected analysts in the sport. He will bring a crew chief’s perspective to the booth with his knowledge and eye for race strategy, pit stops and other technical challenges. Steve will also call races for NBC Sports and TNT.
“I am excited to be a part of Amazon Prime’s coverage of NASCAR. As a sports fan, I have really enjoyed Amazon’s Thursday Night Football coverage and believe that the same creative approach will be great for the NASCAR fan,” Steve Letarte shared on joining the Prime Video booth.
