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After a brief break in NBA action since the New York Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, the NBA is back with the 2026 NBA Draft. Both ESPN and ABC will have broadcast rosters covered with prominent talents that include some of the most notable insiders around the basketball world.
Familiar faces like Shams Charania and Jay Bilas will blend with former basketball players like Iman Shumpert. Many fans have been asking who they will be seeing on ESPN and ABC, and how the broadcast's coverage angles will differ.
Here's what the broadcast desks will look like for this year's NBA Draft in Brooklyn.
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Who are the 2026 NBA Draft announcers?
This year's NBA Draft will be split under the ESPN umbrella on the main ESPN channel and ABC, according to ESPN Press Room. Kevin Negandhi will host ABC's coverage, while Malika Andrews will head the ESPN desk for Tuesday night's first round. The ABC broadcast will feature special guests, such as the draftees and their families, while ESPN's will have a more analytical angle with insights from Shams Charania, Bobby Marks, and Fran Fraschilla.
Wednesday's second round will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN. Malika Andrews will serve as host again, alongside former basketball players Iman Shumpert and King McClure, with insights from Jay Bilas, Brian Windhorst, and another round with Marks, Charania, and Fraschilla.
Here is the breakdown of hosts, analysts, insiders, and reporters who will be on the desk for the draft broadcasts.
Round 1
| Network | Host | Analysts | Insider | Reporter |
| ABC | Kevin Negandhi | Kenny Smith, Jay Williams, and Richard Jefferson | ||
| ESPN | Malika Andrews | Jay Bilas, Tim Legler, and Andraya Carter | Bobby Marks, Shams Charania, and Fran Fraschilla | Lisa Salters |
Round 2
| Network | Host | Analysts | Insider | Reporter |
| ESPN | Malika Andrews | Jay Bilas, Brian Windhorst, Iman Shumpert, and King McClure | Bobby Marks, Shams Charania, and Fran Fraschilla | Vanessa Richardson |
MORE 2026 NBA DRAFT NEWS:
- Ranking top 60 players in 2026 NBA Draft
- Safest picks in 2026, including Cam Boozer and Bennett Stirtz
- Nate Ament, Jayden Quaintance lead riskiest draft prospects
When is the 2026 NBA Draft?
The first round of the draft starts on Tuesday, June 23, at 8 p.m ET. The second round will begin on Friday, also at 8 p.m. ET.
| Date | Round(s) | Start time (ET) |
| June 23 | 1 | 8 p.m. |
| June 24 | 2 | 8 p.m. |
How to watch the 2026 NFL Draft
- TV channels: ABC, ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+
Each day of the draft will feature coverage on two different networks, ABC and ESPN. There is also a live stream available via ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
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