As NBC prepares for its next stint as an NBA rightsholder, the network is continuing to add to its coverage plans. Taking to X on Thursday, Brad Daugherty announced he’ll be joining NBC’s broadcast team for the 2025-26 season.
At this point, it’s unclear what the former Cleveland Cavaliers center’s specific role with NBC will be, although the 59-year-old also shared that he’ll remain the lead analyst for the Cavs’ local broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network.
Thrilled to announce I’m joining the @NBAonNBC team for the 2025-26 season. I’m pumped for this next step in the journey, and more hoops! 🎙️🏀
Don’t worry, @cavs fans – I’m not going anywhere! I’ll still be on the mic as Lead Analyst with the @FanDuelSN_CLE crew. 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/wdzoTH0fd2
— Brad Daugherty (@BradDaugherty43) May 22, 2025
While Daugherty might not be the biggest star on NBC’s NBA roster — which also includes the likes of Reggie Miller, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Jamal Crawford and some guy named Michael Jordan — his addition to the network’s coverage remains noteworthy nonetheless. After earning five All-Star appearances over the course of his eight-year career in Cleveland, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1986 NBA Draft spent the early part of his post-playing career in NASCAR, both as a team owner and analyst.
Brad Daugherty became an NBA and college basketball analyst for ESPN in 2014 and began making appearances on local Cavs broadcasts in 2019. He ultimately took over as his former team’s lead analyst in 2024 after initially splitting duties alongside fellow franchise legend Austin Carr.
But despite Daugherty’s recent rise as a basketball analyst, his ties to the NASCAR world are also notable. With NBC’s NASCAR rights deal continuing later this year, there’s now a natural crossover between the network’s racing and professional basketball coverage, especially when factoring in Michael Jordan’s presence in both worlds.
That’s just speculation, however, as there has yet to be any indication that Brad Daugherty (let alone Jordan) will have any non-NBA responsibilities at NBC. For now, we’ll wait to see what Daugherty’s official role at NBC winds up being, as well any additional moves the network makes to fill out the rest of its broadcast team.
