NBA Insider Chris Broussard has been with ESPN since 2004, and he has become known for his (sometimes questionable) relationships with players, outspoken Christian beliefs, and brash presentation style. Broussard is among ESPN’s most recognizable NBA reporters; he’s up there with Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne.
Broussard may not be with the Worldwide Leader for much longer, however, according to the Sporting News. Broussard’s contract is reportedly up in mid-September.
If the two sides do not work out a new deal, Broussard could bolt for a number of outlets. ESPN’s NBA journalism competition is varied and steep. He could head for Bleacher Report, The Vertical, or TNT on NBA, among other places.
Broussard, 47, worked for The New York Times for six years before joining ESPN.
Of late, it’s seemed ESPN is not willing to fork over big money to keep its personalities aboard. Colin Cowherd, Keith Olbermann, and Skip Bayless are among those who have taken bigger deals with other networks. Then, of course, there is Bill Simmons—though his exit did not seem to be centered on money.
Granted, those figures are more universally sports-talk oriented, whereas Broussard is an NBA reporter. At this point, he is so well known that it would not be surprising if Broussard opened up his repertoire and joined an existing show, or even got a new one of his own.
There is still a chance Broussard sticks around at ESPN. With the league’s burgeoning popularity and competition for scoops increasing by the day, it would seem to be in the network’s best interest to keep a reporter of Broussard’s ilk on the payroll.
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