ESPN Re-Signs Veteran Play-By-Play Voice Mark Jones with Multi-Year Agreement
An ESPN staple since 1990, Jones says: "This is where I want to be. I'm absolutely thrilled to continue this unimaginable journey through sports at ESPN with the most talented people in the industry."
NBA and college football commentator Mark Jones is in the midst of his fourth decade with ESPN.
(Joshua Gateley/ESPN Images)
In 2012 at the Verizon Center, Jones interviews President Barack Obama (Photo courtesy of Mark Jones/ESPN)
(L-R) Cassidy Hubbarth, Jones, Doris Burke (Photo courtesy Mark Jones/ESPN)
In this 1994 shot, host Jones (L) shares the desk with analyst Jack Ramsay. (John Atashian/ESPN Images)ESPN today announced it has reached a multi-year extension with veteran play-by-play voice Mark Jones. This extends a prolific, 32-year ESPN career for Jones, dating back to 1990.
Today, Jones is one of ESPN’s prominent play-by-play commentators on two of its highest-profile properties: the NBA and college football. Jones is regularly paired with top ESPN analysts, including Curt Gowdy Media Award-winner Doris Burke on the ABC NBA Sunday Showcase franchise.
Jones said: “This is where I want to be. I’m absolutely thrilled to continue this unimaginable journey through sports at ESPN with the most talented people in the industry. I think about walking into the NBA Today and SportsCenter studios in 1990 with a chance to document the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls, and almost 32 years later I’m covering another all-time legend in LeBron James. I’m elated by the opportunities I’ve had. I’ve even interviewed our first Black President Barack Obama. I’ve always loved ESPN, never more than when they allowed me to call my daughter’s [Sophia, a freshman at San Jose State] college basketball game which will always be an indelible moment for the Jones family.”
In his accomplished career, Jones has served as a lead voice for ESPN’s coverage for a litany of signature events and platforms, including its NBA studio programming, NBA All-Star and NBA Draft coverage, SportsCenter, NCAA College Football on ESPN and ABC, NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, the World Track & Field Championships and ABC’s Wide World of Sports. He’s also the play-by-play voice of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. For more on Jones, access his bio on ESPN Press Room.
Jones will call the Sunday, March 13 New York Knicks versus Brooklyn Nets game (ABC, 1 p.m. ET) with analyst Doris Burke and reporter Malika Andrews.
