ESPN History

#TBT: As NBA Playoffs on ESPN and ABC loom, a look at early days of league coverage

1983:  Roger Twibell interviews Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics.
1983: ESPN’s Roger Twibell interviews Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics. (ESPN)

Welcome to Front Row’s #TBT: Throwback Thursday.

As we get ready for the NBA playoffs’ tip-off on ESPN and ABC beginning this weekend, let’s recall a time when ESPN began airing The Association’s games.

ESPN’s first rights deal for the NBA was in 1982, or barely three years after the network was born. The two-year contract called for rights to telecast 40 regular-season games and 10 playoff contests for each of the seasons. In the beginning, ESPN began airing games primarily on Sunday nights.

For more information on the NBA playoffs on ESPN’s networks and ABC, visit ESPN MediaZone.

A look at the news release about the 1982 ESPN NBA rights agreement is below.

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