My humble advice to ESPN on how to improve their Draft coverage on TV:
QUICK RECAP: So here's the new crew: Ryen Russillo as the host, with Jay Bilas, Chad Ford, and Jimmy Dykes as the analysts. Off to the side, you have Ric Bucher and Steven A. Smith debating topics, and then there's Michelle Beadle... which is always a good thing. Add more graphics and focus more on the teams that are on the clock.
I'd argue that with the right ingredients, ANY sports draft can be good TV (yes, including the NHL Draft and MLS SuperDraft). The NBA Draft coverage on ESPN is sub par and pales in comparison to their NFL Draft coverage. Let's hope ESPN acknowledges this and puts out a better TV product next year!
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- Have Ryen Russillo host the show and get rid of Stuart Scott. Russillo is fantastic on the Scott Van Pelt Show and the NBA Today podcast. Stu Scott reminds me of Chris Berman, which means I think he's very, very annoying.
- Keep Jay Bilas as an analyst, but also add Chad Ford and Jimmy Dykes to the desk. Ford ranks prospects all year, and Dykes (a former NBA scout and current college b-ball analyst) should be featured more often, he's very good.
- At a side stage, have Ric Bucher and Steven A. Smith sit face-to-face across a coffee table in big comfy chairs. Every 5 picks or so, cut to Bucher and Smith so they can debate the best picks so far, trades that happened, who the Knicks should draft, or whatever.
- Scrap the boring interviews with players and families after each selection. Instead, use that time to focus on upcoming picks. There is only 5 minutes between picks, and ESPN does not spend nearly enough time looking at who are the best players available, who's on the clock and what their specific needs are, etc.
- Ditch the loudspeaker in the Draft hall. I'm talking about how the prospects and their families and the live audience can hear the ESPN studio crew as they offer their two cents on the pick that was just made. Just mute that thing. That way these kids don't have to hear things like, "I think they may have really reached on this pick. I think this guy is overrated" at 100 decibels as they're walking to the stage and realizing their dream! Simple solution: Let the audience at home enjoy the analysis, and let the live audience enjoy their experience without the commentary.
- Add the NFL style graphics! Where are the all the graphics? During the NFL Draft, there are so many on-screen graphics, only 25% of the screen remains available to display Mel Kiper's hair! (Hey-Oh!) Give me more info on the screen, as much as you can possibly fit on there.
- Save the jokes for Bill Simmons and his Draft Diary, and play the TV side straight. First of all, Simmons and his buddies are actually funny. Second of all, that kind of humor is better suited for the Internet, anyway. It's the NBA Draft, not A Night At The Improv (featuring the ESPN Players).
- Add Michelle Beadle. Somehow, some way, get Beadle on the broadcast. She loves basketball and ESPN fans love her, so it's a perfect match. Just find something for her to do. Anything!
QUICK RECAP: So here's the new crew: Ryen Russillo as the host, with Jay Bilas, Chad Ford, and Jimmy Dykes as the analysts. Off to the side, you have Ric Bucher and Steven A. Smith debating topics, and then there's Michelle Beadle... which is always a good thing. Add more graphics and focus more on the teams that are on the clock.
I'd argue that with the right ingredients, ANY sports draft can be good TV (yes, including the NHL Draft and MLS SuperDraft). The NBA Draft coverage on ESPN is sub par and pales in comparison to their NFL Draft coverage. Let's hope ESPN acknowledges this and puts out a better TV product next year!
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