Amazon Prime Video Taps Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin for NBA Coverage

CULVER CITY, Calif. — Amazon Prime Video has announced that former NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin will join host Taylor Rooks as part of its inaugural NBA studio coverage. The streamer is set to begin its NBA package during the 2025-26 season, marking a significant expansion into sports broadcasting.

Griffin, who retired in April after a 15-year career, was a highly sought-after analyst by multiple networks, including NBC and ESPN. The six-time All-Star and 2011 Slam Dunk Contest winner brings a wealth of experience and charisma to the role. Nowitzki, a 14-time All-Star and 2007 NBA MVP, will also make his debut as an analyst. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer spent his entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks before retiring in 2019.

Taylor Rooks, a feature reporter for Prime Video’s ‘Thursday Night Football’ and a host on Bleacher Report and TNT, will lead the studio show. The program will be based in Culver City, California, on the Amazon MGM Studios lot.

Prime Video’s NBA coverage will include 66 regular-season games, all games from the quarterfinals of the in-season NBA Cup, and every game of the play-in tournament. Additionally, the platform will broadcast first- and second-round playoff games and one conference final series in six of the 11 years of its media rights deal.

Amazon has also secured Ian Eagle as its lead play-by-play caller, signaling a commitment to high-quality production. The streamer is still in talks with other potential hires, including Dwyane Wade, for studio and game duties. The move follows Amazon’s strategy with its NFL ‘Thursday Night Football’ coverage, which features a mix of seasoned and newer analysts.

The NBA’s media landscape is undergoing significant changes, with TNT Sports exiting the game space and NBC/Peacock joining Amazon and ABC/ESPN as primary broadcasters. ESPN has already made moves to retain key talent, including Shaquille O'Neal, while Charles Barkley has hinted at potential shifts in his broadcasting future.

Amazon’s entry into NBA broadcasting represents a new frontier in sports streaming, with the platform set to offer exclusive coverage of high-stakes postseason games. The addition of Nowitzki and Griffin, both beloved figures in the basketball world, is expected to draw significant viewership and establish Prime Video as a major player in sports media.