The NBA, being one of the most-watched leagues in the world, boasts an enormous fan base that compels every sports media outlet to report the most recent happenings. In this regard, media personalities and broadcasters continue to provide live news coverage, insightful analysis, rumors, and valuable opinions pertaining to the sport.
From Stephen A. Smith and Candace Parker to Charles Barkley and Big Shaq, the NBA has some of the greatest media personalities in spectator sports. Today we’ll be ranking the top 10 best NBA media personalities who add flair to the beloved league.
#10. Candace Parker
Candace Parker is an icon in the world of Women’s basketball. She is the first woman to have dunked in college-level Women’s basketball and has inspired many young girls to consider basketball as a professional career in the WNBA.
She is widely considered one of the best female personalities in the sport who continues to inspire girls to take the court.
After having a successful career in the WNBA for over a decade she took her next step toward the broadcasting line. Parker is one of the most popular and respected NBA analysts and commentators out there. She is often seen on TNT broadcasts and NBA TV. She is not much of a jokester but her insights on the game are very powerful.
Having been a top-level player herself, Candace Parker can break down plays and make it easier for the people to understand which makes her very popular among the audience in a positive way.
#9. Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is an NFL legend who diverted his career path to the broadcasting and media field of work after his retirement. Sharpe is widely considered one of the greatest tight ends to have ever played in the NFL. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion and also a pro football Hall of Famer. After retiring from football Sharpe turned his attention towards the commentary profession.
He began his career in the broadcasting industry in 2009 where he appeared as a commentator for CBS Sports’ NFL Today. Later on, he transitioned to FS1 and started co-hosting the show “Undisputed” alongside Skip Bayless.
Despite being a professional football player Sharpe has great interests in the game of basketball. He is quite entertaining and is also popular in the basketball community, often making headlines for his bold comments. However, his basketball analysis is slightly unorthodox, given he played a different sport, when compared to other individuals on this Best NBA Media Personalities list.
#8. JJ Reddick
JJ Reddick is a former NBA player who has played for top teams including the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, and the Los Angeles Clippers. Reddick also went on to pursue a career in commentary and Broadcasting after his retirement in 2021. The two-time NBA All-Star was a great shooter in his playing days and holds the record for most three-pointers scored by a player in a single season without starting a game.
He now works for ESPN as an Analyst and also hosts the podcast “The Old Man and the Three.” He initially entered the broadcasting space in 2006 with his podcast and became very popular in the community.
After retiring he joined ESPN and continues to grow in his new career. Reddick is well respected among fans for his ability to easily analyze plays and find tactical flaws in matches that went wrong, thanks to his experience as a former player. He is quite entertaining to watch as well and has a decent popularity to bring in viewers.
#7. Richard Jefferson
Richard Jefferson is a former NBA player who decided to venture into the commentary and broadcasting field of work after his retirement. He spent 17 years in the NBA where he played for many teams including the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a proficient defensive player who was known for his athleticism and defensive skills.
After retirement, Jefferson joined ESPN in 2019 as an NBA analyst and regularly makes appearances on the channel.
He can be seen on the shows NBA Today, First Take, and NBA Countdown. Jefferson has a great sense of humor and has been quite popular since his playing days. It makes him a likable person to watch on TV and other platforms. He also has great knowledge of the game thanks to his first-hand experience as a former player in the league.
#6. Skip Bayless
Skip Bayless is the first of the two nonathletes to be featured on this best NBA media personalities list. Bayless is a full-time columnist, commentator, and television personality who has become one of the most recognizable personalities in the world of the NBA.
Bayless has worked on a variety of hit analyst shows with different outlets and is among the most experienced media personalities in the world.
Bayless worked with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take the duo of Smith and Bayless became quite popular. Known for his sharp wit, knowledge of the game, and controversial opinions, Skip Bayless now works for Fox Sports 1 where he co-hosts ‘Undisputed’ alongside NFL legend Shannon Sharpe. Bayless has become one of the most polarizing figures in modern NBA media owing to his bold and sharp-witted comments.
#5. Kendrick Perkins
Former player and one-time NBA champion Kendrick Perkins takes the fifth spot on this best NBA media personalities list. Perkins is known for his wit, intelligence, and his innate ability to break down complex plays and explain them in a way that is easy to understand. Perkins is a well-respected and liked figure in the NBA community.
He is currently working for ESPN as an NBA analyst and can be seen making regular appearances on the show NBA Today and NBA Countdown. He started his media career in 2019 after retiring from professional basketball. Since then he has become a key figure in the world of NBA media and is well-liked by his audience.
#4. Bill Simmons
Bill Simmons is a popular name among hardcore NBA fans, as Simmons has established a prominent career in the media industry since he first stepped into it. He is the founder of the sports and pop culture website The Ringer and also acts as CEO of the outlet. Simmons’ signature ability is his writing style which is insightful and humorous at the same time.
He also hosts and owns a podcast show called “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” which is one of the most popular sports podcasts in the world.
Simmons is a respected figure in the NBA community and the sports media world in general. He may be a bit bold in his opinions, but it is no denying that his ability to connect with his audience, whether it be through his podcast or his writing, is exceptional.
#3. Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith is often considered a controversial figure in spectator sports, but he makes the most headlines out of everyone on this best NBA media personalities list.
Owing to his on-screen popularity and unique take on all things NBA, Smith is one of the most recognizable faces on TV. He is a wise man who has an innate ability to connect with the fans and keep them entertained or engaged.
He has a deep knowledge of the game and gives a thorough analysis of games and plays. However, he can be a bit too harsh in his criticism which usually draws wide fan attention. Stephen A. Smith is sometimes disliked by players and fans for his blunt personality, but his work brings in viewers, making him one of most popular personalities in the NBA media.
#2. Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley is one of the most recognizable figures in the NBA. He is a former player who has played for many of the top teams in the NBA throughout his illustrious career that saw him achieve greatness despite never winning a ring.
Barkley is widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards to have ever played the game and by the time he made the switch to the media line, he was popular enough to boost the ratings of any show he would feature in.
Barkley entered the media space in 1990 when he joined TNT to appear on their Inside the NBA show. He quickly became well-liked as a sports analyst and his popularity soared even higher. Barkley is mostly loved for his insightful takes on games and his entertaining partnership with co-host Shaquille O’Neal.
#1. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is in another league when it comes to popularity. The former Lakers star and four-time NBA champion was sought after by every media company when he decided to enter the media space full-time after retirement.
Shaq started his broadcasting career in 2004 when he made his first appearance on TNT’s Inside the NBA alongside Charles Barkley who in future would become his most popular partner on television.
Shaq has established himself among the best sports analysts in the NBA media because of his wit, intelligence, and deep knowledge of the game. He is also humorous and jokes a lot on his shows, especially alongside Charles Barkley.
Shaquille O’Neal’s immense popularity and his knack for entertaining his audience while at the same time keeping them engaged to the TV screen makes him the best sports analyst in this best NBA media personalities list.
Who would make your top ten list of best NBA media personalities? Let us know in the comments below.
