Mark Jones has been a familiar face on ESPN for a remarkably long time – he first started working there during George H.W. Bush’s presidency, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
So, yeah, it’s been a long time.
And now, Jones says, “it’s time to move on.”
Sunday will be Dick Vitale’s last broadcast with ESPN. He’ll be calling the play-by-play for the Orlando Magic versus the Boston Celtics game, which is the last game of the NBA’s regular season. It’s likely fans won’t hear his famous catchphrase, “hotter than fish grease,” on the network again after that.
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Stephen A. Smith explained that he decided to leave his regular role on ‘NBA Countdown’ while negotiating his contract with ESPN. He said his schedule was becoming too full, especially with his continued work on ‘First Take.’
After decades with ABC/ESPN, I’ve decided to step down,” Jones announced in an Instagram post on Friday. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity Dennis Swanson gave me back in 1990, and for the chance to work with a fantastic producer like Kim Belton. I’ll always cherish the friendships and working relationships I’ve built here.
Mike Jones, 64, began his career at ESPN in 1990 and is a well-known play-by-play announcer. While he’s most recognized for his work covering NBA games, he’s also announced college football and both men’s and women’s college basketball, as well as the WNBA and UFL. He made history on June 2, 2022, when he, Mark Jackson, and Lisa Salters became the first all-Black broadcast team to call an NBA Finals game on television.
Jones has also hosted the studio show “NBA Today” and worked as an anchor and reporter for “SportsCenter”.
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ESPN has announced a change to its top NBA broadcast team: Tim Legler will now join the team as an analyst. However, Doris Burke, a popular analyst, isn’t leaving the network – she recently signed a new, multi-year contract.
ESPN announced that Mark has been a key part of their team since 1990, becoming a well-known voice for NBA and college football coverage across all their channels. They expressed gratitude for his many contributions and wished him all the best in the future.
In addition to his job at ESPN, Jones has been the main TV voice for the Sacramento Kings since 2020.
It’s unclear what Jones plans to do next, but he concluded his announcement with a bold prediction about the future, finishing with his well-known catchphrase.
He announced he’s excited for what’s next in his career, saying, “I’m confident my best achievements are still ahead, and I’m ready to get to work with a lot of energy!”
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2026-04-12 21:28