Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose laid off by ESPN amidst major cutbacks / News - Basketnews.com

Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose were just two of the on-air personalities that were let go by ESPN due to the network's cost-saving policy.

Credit: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Credit Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

ESPN has fired NBA analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose amid a round of cost-saving layoffs at the network that reportedly includes close to 20 personalities.

Jalen Rose

Position:SG, SFAge:50Height:202 cmWeight:96 kgBirth place:Detroit, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Van Gundy had served as an NBA analyst for ESPN since 2007, most notably on NBA Finals broadcasts alongside Mike Breen and Mark Jackson.

Rose had also worked for ESPN since 2007, appearing as a studio analyst on 'NBA Countdown' since 2012. Rose, 50, recently ended his long-running daily program 'Jalen & Jacoby.' He joined the network in 2007 after a 13-year NBA career.

'Monday Night Countdown' host Suzy Kolber announced she was also part of the layoffs, ending her 27-year run with the network.

Other notable reported exits include longtime Sportscenter anchor Neil Everett, former Red Wing and NHL analyst Chris Chelios, college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis and former New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich, an NFL analyst.

Van Gundy, 61, had been with ESPN for 16 years and was a key part of the network’s NBA coverage alongside play-by-play man Mike Breen and co-game analyst, Mark Jackson. Together, the trio called nearly 100 NBA Finals games.

Andrew Marchand of the New York Post was the first to report Van Gundy's exit. Van Gundy is the younger brother of for Pistons coach and general manager Stan Van Gundy. A former coach with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, he found new life on TV covering the NBA and morphed into one of the top NBA analysts ever.

ESPN’s NBA game broadcast production has long been considered one of the company’s strongest units. Former NBA and Duke star JJ Redick, former NBA player Richard Jefferson and longtime contributor Doris Burke are the leading candidates to replace Van Gundy, according to the Post.

The moves are cost-cutting measures, ESPN confirmed in a statement.

"Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract renewals in the months ahead," the press release reads.

"This is an extremely challenging process, involving individuals who have had a tremendous impact on our company. These difficult decisions, based more on overall efficiency than merit, will help us meet our financial targets and ensure future growth."

According to the Washington Post, those laid off Friday will still have their contracts paid in full. By laying the employees off now, ESPN can clear their salaries from the fiscal year 2024 books, an accounting tactic that allows ESPN’s parent company, Disney, to deliver the cost savings that CEO Bob Iger promised to Wall Street.

The cuts are part of a larger effort to reduce costs at Disney under the orders of Iger. He returned to helm the company in November after a 2.5-year absence and said he would cut or not fill 7.000 jobs. His return to Disney came after the company reported $1.5 billion in operating losses in the fourth quarter of last year on streaming service Disney Plus, which includes ESPN's streaming offering, ESPN Plus.

More layoffs are expected to become public.

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.