ESPN Teams Up with Academy Award-Winning Director Spike Lee to Direct and Appear in the 2021 NBA Finals Broadcast Opens on ABC

ESPN today announced that Academy Award-Winning Director, Spike Lee, will direct and appear in the broadcast opens for the 2021 NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV. The first open debuts next week, airing at tip off to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Each game will air one of the four episodes inspired by the NBA legends of both yesterday and today.

In family rooms and kitchens around the world, NBA Fandom and the love of the game are passed on through generations. With a nod to Lee’s classic movies, the 2021 NBA Finals broadcast opens take advantage of a mixed media approach while incorporating both historical highlights and the style of the players who have impacted the Finals. This is an ode to the origins, voice, and heartbeat of the modern game.

“As a basketball aficionado and an orange and blue faithful it is my honor and pleasure to direct the NBA Finals opens,” said Spike Lee. “I thank Commissioner Adam Silver, ESPN, and ABC for giving me the opportunity to do what I love — sports and cinema. YA-DIG? SHO-NUFF.”

ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer, Julie McGlone, said “Spike is an NBA fan and loves the history of the game. He was at Madison Square Garden for Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals and recalls every detail about Willis Reed and the Knicks. Spike describes these moments as a fan certainly, but also an active participant of great NBA Finals Championship moments.”

ESPN will exclusively produce the NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV on ABC for the 19th consecutive season.