The NBA Broadcast Dream Team: Stephen A., Charles Barkley, and Michael Wilbon Together?

Some may prefer ESPN’s NBA broadcast while others want Turner’s or NBA TV’s. So, the following pages complete a task of drafting the dream team of an NBA broadcast. Roles filled include:

• Studio panel
• Studio host
• Insiders
• Play-by-play
• Color commentary

Studio Show Panel

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley has to be a focal point here. He is the most polarizing, talked about, entertaining NBA analyst of all time. In a world where 95 percent of former players are boring, Barkley stands out. Putting Barkley on this hypothetical show ensures it will be watched and discussed. Chuck benefits at times from the playful exchanges with Shaquille O’Neal, but he doesn’t need him. Put Barkley on here, the rest will come.

Stephen A. Smith

Speaking of headlines, pairing Stephen A. Smith and Barkley together would be epic. Just sit back and imagine the energy, dialogue, and reactions on a set with these two. Clearly, Smith doesn’t need someone else to be a lightning rod. However, his style gets taken up several notches when he is paired with someone that gets him riled up a la a Skip Bayless or Will Cain. Insert Barkley, and this show is no longer just about previewing and reacting to the games, it is now about the joy of seeing these two spar like they are in a WWE ring.

Michael Wilbon

There is only one possible way to make a panel of Smith and Barkley even better, and that is adding Michael Wilbon to the mix. Wilbon, who his friends with both of them, is a necessity to take this show to the highest of heights. This new wave of millennial-style basketball has made Wilbon as valuable as he has ever been. The story of Wilbon remains the same, though. He has the rare combination of being widely entertaining while also being a credible voice on the topics he discusses.

Insiders: Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne

NBA studio shows can learn from what ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown has done so well: Utilizd two insiders on their broadcast. Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne are the two best options. Woj has to be included as he continues to dominate NBA news with no end in sight. Shelburne should be the other. She is one of the top at her craft and is the best one in terms of performance on television. She is the most informative voice on the most-discussed NBA topic, the Lakers, and can have fun with the often ridiculous storylines the league creates.

Studio Host – Ernie Johnson

Ernie Johnson Jr. is the pick to solidify this firework of a studio show. He is one of the best hosts in the business and has been for years. With the crew assembled, there is not much need to create buzz, but this would undoubtedly be a challenging role. His refereeing abilities often used on Inside the NBA have prepared him well for a role on a desk with Charles Barkley, Stephen A. Smith, and Mike Wilbon.

Play-by-Play – Mike Breen

As if we needed a Bang! Marv Albert has been, and still is the most recognizable voice in the NBA, but Breen is the best going right now. His energy and big-game gravitas have separated him from the pack the past few seasons. He calls the game at a fast pace and mirrors Joe Buck making the smallest of events sound seismic. Breen’s game is not altered much at all whether he is a part of broadcast with two or three people. He can be paired with anyone without much of a change. The voices of the NFL get most of the attention, but Breen absolutely is in the class of those play-by-players.

Color Commentary – Dwyane Wade

Going to fill this position with someone not in this role. There is very little separation amongst the current talent on color commentary, therefore, taking a risk here is the right move. Ever since Tony Romo started working for CBS, the bar has been raised. The search of the NBA-version of Romo leads us to Dwyane Wade, whose next stop post-playing years very well could and should be broadcasting. Who knows if he would ever take this gig, but he projects to be phenomenal at it. Put him with Breen, and this would be the most most-listen to NBA broadcast in a long time. He may not end up being as good as Romo, but with this All-Star crew, he is the missing piece.