This former Pelican would make great Manning-like broadcast for NBA

Which players would be perfect for a NBA version of the Manning-cast?

Isiah Thomas

Zeke already has some broadcasting experience, having been a part of the Players Only broadcasts for TNT in the past. That kind of prior knowledge in how to conduct a broadcast will be very beneficial in our brand new alternate stream.

Known for having a tremendous chip on his shoulder, Thomas is one to long hold a grudge. Everyone who watched The Last Dance knows Isiah is not one to let sleeping dogs lie. Going with Thomas may seem like I’m trying to only get small guards who were seemingly ready to throw a punch at a moment’s notice. And yes, I am looking for players who were not afraid but more so because I feel they would be willing to give the viewers real insight into what happened.

Isiah also has experience running teams from the inside, he was the head coach for the Indiana Pacers and an executive for both the New York Knicks and Liberty. His tenure with the Knicks was not good for multiple reasons (a sexual harassment case from a female colleague mostly) but that doesn’t change the fact that Thomas knows the game from every level of professional ball.

Steve Nash

As head coach of the title favorite Brooklyn Nets, prying him away from the sideline will be tough. Nash was a premier floor general whose career nearly crossed with Thomas (Nash entered the league in 1996, just two years after Isiah retired). Nash’s career would be undoubtedly greater if he enter the league in 2016 as opposed to 1996.

His style of play with the “seven seconds or less” Suns was ahead of their time, Nash had the range to excel in today’s game. With Nash on the broadcast, viewers would be treated to another host with knowledge of how teams are assembled off the court and how they want to play on the court (Nash spent time as a consultant for Team Canada and Golden State before taking the Brooklyn job).

Nash has also spent time on broadcasts in the past for Bleacher Report. Now, this was for the UEFA Champions League (soccer is Nash’s other lover) but that’s still experience in front of a camera. All on-screen experience is good from my point of view as this means the players should have less trouble adapting to the peculiarities of calling a game on live TV.

While most of these choices have not called games on national TV in the past all are more knowledgable about the game than nearly everyone calling them right now. That’s the point, this broadcast isn’t meant to follow the script already in place. Just like the Manning-cast I want this new NBA broadcast to teach us about the game or just have a great time watching it together. Tell the fans stories about their playing days or teach them something new.