Michelle Beadle and Sage Steele to Split ESPN's NBA Countdown Hosting Role

Michelle Beadle and Sage Steele will split the host role for ESPN’s NBA Countdown this season, The Big Lead has learned from a source with knowledge of the situation. The source requested anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment for this story.

Last year, Steele hosted Countdown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and Doris Burke hosted Wednesdays. This year, Beadle will be on Wednesday and Friday, and Steele will do Saturdays and Sundays. In the move, Steele will become what the source described as a “face” of remote SportsCenters, where she’ll anchor on the road from big events such as the World Series, Super Bowl, Masters and NFL Draft.

Doris Burke will have an expanded role as an analyst and reporter in the NBA and for both men’s and women’s college basketball games. In the past, Beadle, who will remain on SportsNation, has occasionally filled in on Countdown.

Click the related link below for ESPN’s expected announce teams for NBA games this season: