Carmelo Anthony is set to take on a new broadcast role ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The 40-year-old former 10-time All-Star has not done much media work since announcing his retirement from professional hoops last year.
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However, before the NBA television landscape changes, Anthony may soon become a regular feature.
According to Front Office Sports, the former New York Knicks star is in talks with Amazon Prime Video and NBA newcomers NBC about joining their studio teams.
Amazon has so far signed up Taylor Rocks to be the face of its coverage.
The 32-year-old could also be joined on the NBA's new Prime Team by Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin.
Meanwhile, NBC has allegedly agreed to a deal with Jamal Crawford, who previously worked at TNT Sports.
The broadcaster is also expected to sign Dwyane Wade, after the Miami Heat legend excelled as part of the Paris 2024 Olympics team.
In addition to Amazon and NBC, Anthony can also negotiate with ESPN.
After agreeing to a new 11-year, $77 billion broadcast deal with the NBA, ESPN finds itself in a changing situation.
In 2023, channel executives decided to jettison former A-Team Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson as part of a massive talent cull.
They decided to replace the duo with Doc Rivers and Doris Burke.
When Rivers left to become the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, ESPN turned to JJ Redick.
With Redick, 40, taking over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, they are once again looking for a high-profile replacement.
So far they have alternated between Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and Jay Bilas in the role.
It remains to be seen who will be selected alongside Mike Breen and Burke once the playoffs are over.
New rights deal
The NBA has signed an 11-year contract with three networks for the rights to the league starting in the 2025-26 season.
There will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.
The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC.
They will also feature approximately 18 first- and second-round playoff games, conference finals series for 10 of their 11 years, and will remain the home of the NBA Finals.
NBC will return as NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.
The network will show up to 100 games per season across its channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be home to the NBA All-Star and feature approximately 28 first- and second-round playoff games.
NBC will show one conference finals series for six of the 11 years, alternating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular season games, including Black Friday.
The streaming service is also home to the final stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Championship.
Prime will also broadcast about a third of the first and second round playoff games.
But Jefferson (44 years old) will be the most likely candidate now.
The former NBA champion is scheduled to sit alongside Breen and Burke on Christmas Day.
They will be ready for the exciting matchup between Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors and LeBron James' Lakers.
ESPN is scheduled to begin its NBA Christmas coverage at 11 a.m. with the NBA Countdown.
It will then be broadcast live until the early hours of the morning.
The day will begin with the Knicks' match against the San Antonio Spurs, before the Dallas Mavericks host the Minnesota Timberwolves. Next, the Boston Celtics will face the Philadelphia 76ers, before the Warriors and Lakers match up. The night's game will see the Phoenix Suns host the Denver Nuggets.
