Thanksgiving is next week, so you know what that means: It’s time for the 2020 NBA draft!
Been quite a decade we’ve had this year, hasn’t it?
ESPN will carry the annual assignment of negotiating rights for an 18th successive year. This year it will be conducted virtually from ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn.
Wednesday’s show begins at 7 p.m. CST, with pre-draft coverage beginning at 6:30.
Barring trades, the Chicago Bulls own the No. 4 pick after the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets. They also have the 44th pick in the second round.
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There are plenty of places to find predictions of who will select whom. This isn’t one of them, but we’ll entertain other questions.
What does ‘conducted virtually from ESPN headquarters’ mean?
Remember this year’s NFL draft? This will be a lot like that, except NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum will announce selections from ESPN’s studios, rather than Roger Goodell’s home.
What about the potential draftees?
As many as 60 of them will be seen and heard remotely.
Who is lined up to host?
Rece Davis is back, joined by analysts Jay Bilas and Jay Williams and NBA draft guru Mike Schmitz. Former baiduhai reporter Malika Andrews also will contribute.
What about Adrian Wojnarowski?
Figured it went without saying that Woj would be part of ESPN’s coverage, but OK. Now we’ve said it. Bobby Marks also will be in studio with front-office insights and commentary.
How does ESPN intend to cover things?
The network will have its usual news, features, interviews and commentary. It also plans to “document draft headquarters activity for up to eight NBA teams” and will introduce a new graphics and animation package.
“ESPN is going to do everything (it) can to make sure that you get kind of a behind-the-scenes look at each prospect’s draft night, get to hear from them, get to see their reaction, some of their family members, all that,” Mike Schmitz said. “We’re going to have some unique elements that will bring out these players’ personalities and the emotion of getting drafted, especially in such a unique year for all of us.”
What about local radio?
WSCR-AM 670, home of the Bulls, will have play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky, analyst Bill Wennington and Cody Westerlund talking about the draft from 6 to 10 p.m.
WMVP-AM 1000 will have Chris Bleck and Adam Abdalla discussing the Bulls picks and ESPN Radio’s national coverage led by Marc Kestecher and Doris Burke with P.J. Carlesimo and LaPhonso Ellis.
I imagine apps will have content too. Anything special?
Beyond the usual sharing of content across platforms, there will be some special app-only content.
On NBC Sports Chicago’s My Teams app, for example, the plan is to have live reaction to the Bulls’ first pick from Jason Goff, Kendall Gill and Will Perdue.
What about on NBC Sports Chicago itself?
At 10:30 p.m. on the TV home of the Bulls — and, for authenticated subscribers, on the My Teams app and the channel’s website — Goff, Gill and Perdue will have a recap special covering the first and second rounds.
Does SiriusXM satellite radio have anything to add?
Aren’t the local stations enough for you? The subscription service’s NBA Radio will carry the draft, and its ESPNU Radio will have Sean Farnham and Seth Greenberg reacting to picks and interviewing coaches and players.
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What about music?
Since you asked, recording artist Judith Hill is scheduled to open ESPN’s draft telecast with the song “Thank You.” You’re welcome.