Tim Legler says the NBA has never once pushed back on him for criticizing officiating during a broadcast.
Legler was a guest on last week's edition of the Awful Announcing Podcast and was asked directly whether he's ever heard from the league after criticizing an official or a call.
"No, not once," he told host Brandon Contes. "They allowed us to have these conversations."
Jeff Van Gundy's exit from ESPN prompted a similar question back in 2023, when Chris Russo suggested that commissioner Adam Silver had pushed for Van Gundy's removal over his blunt criticism of officiating. Silver offered a strong denial, saying the league has no input on ESPN's talent decisions. Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were both let go that summer without much further explanation, aside from reports suggesting the network believed both had coaching aspirations that would eventually pull them from the booth anyway. Legler now occupies a similar seat in the same booth, and by his account, ****** ody from the league has ever had a problem with what he says.
He chalked that up to the credibility he and Richard Jefferson bring as former players, and to a tone he believes keeps the criticism constructive rather than combative.
Legler was a guest on last week's edition of the Awful Announcing Podcast and was asked directly whether he's ever heard from the league after criticizing an official or a call.
"No, not once," he told host Brandon Contes. "They allowed us to have these conversations."
Jeff Van Gundy's exit from ESPN prompted a similar question back in 2023, when Chris Russo suggested that commissioner Adam Silver had pushed for Van Gundy's removal over his blunt criticism of officiating. Silver offered a strong denial, saying the league has no input on ESPN's talent decisions. Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were both let go that summer without much further explanation, aside from reports suggesting the network believed both had coaching aspirations that would eventually pull them from the booth anyway. Legler now occupies a similar seat in the same booth, and by his account, ****** ody from the league has ever had a problem with what he says.
He chalked that up to the credibility he and Richard Jefferson bring as former players, and to a tone he believes keeps the criticism constructive rather than combative.
4 months ago
