Richard Jefferson: Best Analyst in the Business

[trevorthyme]

i like RJ whenever I hear him but nothing compares to the Dunc'd On guys on Playback other than finding the game on an online radio feed and syncing it up. when ppl call the game vs talking narratives really is easier to focus on.

[shi-woo]

He's not bad, and has gotten better over the years. Early on he was just another LeBron glazer who needed to tie everything back to his playing days. He still does this, but not nearly as bad, and he's atleast excited about the game which is what won me over. Half the time I listen to games I can't tell if the people calling it even like basketball. I'm looking at you VanGundy brothers...

I think dudes like Ian Eagle and Mike Gorman before he got old were the standard for dudes on the mic. So many guys from the NCAAB roster are also incredible. Grant Hill, Tim Legler, and a host of others. TOR, NY, and a bunch of other teams i'm forgetting always have good people on their broadcasts, TOR is kinda known for it at this point.

Dorris and Reggie are way too boring and sound like your churchs pastor calling the game, but I understand why people like them. The same people who think The Office and Mr. Bean are hilarious...

I really liked Chris Webber for some reason, and wished he was still calling games. He also brought love and passion to the booth.

[Boardbreaker]

I generally don’t mind his takes but his nasally voice is terrible

[chilluminati]

He's funny and smart, the only person I like hearing from more is Legs.

[Bergmaniac]

Jefferson is decent and nothing more IMO. The best analyst currently working as an NBA commentator is Jim Petersen (the Wolves color commentator).

[TwitterFingers]

Am I watching something different? He’s horrendous

[Wingy]

He’s fine, I don’t think he’s anything special though, and yeah - we could do far worse.

I can’t wait for him to call out the insignificant ‘who takes the first timeout in the second half’ observation for the thousandth time.

[UcanUwill]

I think he's pretty good. Definitely better than Reggie, I still don't understand how Reggie is so popular with some.

Can’t even listen to that guy

I think all National USA announcers are good. When you go to local team announcers, they can be annoying, but national ones are all good IMO. When I compare it to my small country announcers they put on some channels, it is not even close. I legit do not watch my domestic league cause I just do not like the commentating.

Tho National half time shows in the USA is ass, I do not know why that is, but we still have normal, and I mean good, people call the game, but they put idiot hat take artists at half time. God forbid they don't figure to put SAS or Perk to just call games full stop.
I have listened to WIndys pod today, recorded in Thunder arena post game, and they had to legit stop and acknowledge that Kendrick Perkins is shouting in the background so loud doing his thing, that it got into Windy feed and they needed to stop talking until Perk somwhere stops shouting... It would have been hilarious if it wasn't just sad by now.

[phanman]

He just has no chemistry with Mike Breen nor Doris. I liked him better with Ruoco or Dave Pasch. Maybe Breen is a part of the problem, alongside the three man booth? Breen seems to be fine with Clyde Frazier when I watch Knicks games on MSG.

Him and Dave Pasch are an incredible combo but I don't mind his relationship with Breen either. Unfortunately Doris is the odd woman out.

After JVG and Mark got the boot, RJ has quickly risen to become my favourite color analyst for ESPN and I still have Stan and Eagle on TNT as the best combo.

[hyper316]

I liked RJ and JJ Reddick, they worked together a few times

[Deathray]

He just has no chemistry with Mike Breen nor Doris. I liked him better with Ruoco or Dave Pasch. Maybe Breen is a part of the problem, alongside the three man booth? Breen seems to be fine with Clyde Frazier when I watch Knicks games on MSG.

Him and Dave Pasch are an incredible combo but I don't mind his relationship with Breen either. Unfortunately Doris is the odd woman out.

After JVG and Mark got the boot, RJ has quickly risen to become my favourite color analyst for ESPN and I still have Stan and Eagle on TNT as the best combo.

Yeah Stan's the best but Dave Pasch irritates the hell out of me. He constantly goes off on tangents and turns broadcasts into a Dave Pasch podcast with a game going on in the background. He is incapable of focusing on what's actually happening on the court.

[tsherkin]

Breen and Clyde are amazing together. Theirs is a labor of love.

Love those two together!

Reggie Miller has never bothered me. He isnt great or anything, but i appear to be immune to whatever it us people cant stand. Mark Jackson, though…. Arghh.

With you on both of those, floppy; I don't mind Reggie at all. And I think I enjoy him more after watching the episode of All the Smoke where he was the feature guest.

The best analyst in the business is Brian Scalabrine. In all seriousness, the guy's understanding of the modern game is absolutely incredible.
Next time your team plays the Celtics, tune in and listen to him.

Hah! Yes!

[Capn'O]

...

Just saw your sig. This hangs in my bathroom:



The goodle days.

[bisme37]

A few things going for him, and a bunch of key factors that i think makes him a great analyst, arguably the best in the business currently, and perhaps an all-timer when all is said and done.

Depth in his takes - Being a former player and specifically being a role player but also a key starter in some of his stints when he played, he understands the nuances of being both.

In-game analysis on point, relevant - He can identify plays immediately, in-game and live game adjustments; recognizes those changes and explains the implications

Broad audience appeal - He can talk to both the casuals and fans with deeper understanding of the game

Humor - this one is obvious.

Chemistry with fellow commentators - He can be paired with anyone and consistently shows respect to his peers but not afraid to sarcastically call them out/be a contrarian.

Good relationship with players - this one is great for preparation; he can pick the brains of players before the games and mention these little details throughout the game

Impressive use of the green checkmarks. Never seen anything like that done before on here

That's my takeaway too haha. As the RGM thread making robot I'm very intrigued by these incredible checkmarks. Great stuff.

[liquidswords]

I actually really like Monica McNutt. She's lively, fun and analytical. She's really easy to listen to and relatable

[djsunyc]

I actually really like Monica McNutt. She's lively, fun and analytical. She's really easy to listen to and relatable

also nice to look at

[Ice Man]

Richard is smart, articulate, thoughtful, and funny. Unfortunately, he's also at times smarmy and far too pleased with himself. But those are addressable issues -- and if he fixes those, yes he will be elite.

[Wingy]

Side note: My all time favorite was Walton.

For pure entertainment value. Even though it’s not even close to a part of culture I identify with, it always, always cracked me up to see the contrast of this elite former athlete being this stoned out Dead head often spewing random nonsense and applying it to the game.

His nasally voice added to the persona.

“What is Rick Fox thinking?!?!?”

Then just going off on these semi-poetic babbling descriptions of the greatness of some player.

Sure he wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I always found him entertaining.

[Lalouie]

all the best announcers/analysts ive ever heard had a timbre in their voice that had a quality of excitement and visceral engagement of the moment

i hilite lindsey nelson as my all time fave. and chick and vin
i think breen has it
marv had it but i hate him. he was always searching for the catch phrase.

jefferson is not up there but his voice has some juice. it's a quality you either got or don't

[holdenwait]

took me ages to figure out it was him, thought espn randomly had a mexican soccer co-commentator in the crew lol