A new era of Hoop Streams — ESPN’s digital NBA pregame show — has arrived!
The well-established ESPN NBA platform has a new-look team, led by Host Vanessa Richardson with Analyst and 10-year NBA veteran Iman Shumpert.
The duo took over the Hoop Streams reins during ESPN’s coverage of the 2025 NBA Western Conference Finals and they’re kicking it into high gear for pregame shows during the NBA Finals.
And, if the engagement for the Hoop Streams Game 1 show is an indication, the next chapter of the show is off to a hot start. The Game 1 show on June 5 drew nearly one million impressions and 12,000 hours of watch time.
“Vanessa and Iman have fully embraced the idea that we’re not just previewing games, we’re tapping into the culture and energy around them,” said Jonathan Luna, Producer. “The show blends NBA storytelling with real-time relevance, making viewers feel like they’re courtside with us, excited and anxious for tipoff! So far, the audience is responding. Engagement is up across platforms, especially with younger viewers, and we’re seeing strong momentum socially and cross-platform.”
Richardson, who also serves as a Houston Rockets reporter, has been encouraged by what she’s seen.
“Being courtside for all the action and excitement leading up to these massive games is incredible,” she said. “I think we’ve done a solid job of blending Xs and Os with unique and trendy topics and having a range of guests, including John Calipari and Tim Legler, and of course, Shaq dropped by the set!”
“The team that was assembled for Hoop Streams is first class and a fun team to build with,” said Shumpert. “It feels good to be as big a fan of this team as we are fans of basketball.”
As Hoop Streams moves from Oklahoma City to Indiana for NBA Finals Game 3 and Game 4, it will be a homecoming for Richardson, who is an Indiana native and University of Indianapolis alum.
“Basketball is king in Indiana,” she said. “Not just pro and college — going to a high school game is a regular part of most people’s social lives. It’s cool to see the NBA Finals return to Indiana, where hoops are part of the fabric of the state.
Hoop Streams launched in 2018 has become a mainstay in ESPN’s coverage lineup during the biggest events of the year. The show is live, approximately 30 minutes prior to game time, on ESPN’s YouTube and Facebook platforms, as well as the ESPN App.
