Short answers, pulled from the story.
The NBA on ESPN began broadcasting games on the 30th of January 1982. This initial deal marked the first time the league entrusted its national television rights to a cable network rather than traditional broadcast networks.
Mike Breen, Tim Legler, and Richard Jefferson serve as the lead commentators for the NBA on ESPN during the 2025 season. Doris Burke was replaced by Tim Legler on the lead team ahead of the 2025, 26 season while Burke remained on the network in some capacity.
Game 5 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons holds the record for the highest rated game on the NBA on ESPN. The game scored a 5.5 cable Nielsen rating with nearly five million viewers.
Major changes occurred on the 24th of February 2025 when ESPN announced that Jeff will remain with Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson for the rest of the season. Another significant date is the 13th of April 2016 when ESPN2 aired Kobe Bryant's final game against the Utah Jazz.
The current agreement allows ABC and its sister network ESPN to broadcast 75 regular season games annually until 2036. This deal was renewed in 2024 to take coverage through to 2036 but includes reduced Friday schedules compared to previous years.