Doris Burke Sparks Outrage with Controversial Comments During NBA Game

NEW YORK, NY — ESPN commentator Doris Burke faced backlash Monday night after her remarks garnered confusion and criticism during the NBA playoff game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Burke, 60, was covering Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals when she made a peculiar reference involving players Rudy Gobert and Isaiah Hartenstein. While discussing the two athletes, she remarked, “I don’t know much about history, but I know the French and German don’t like one another. And Rudy says, ‘Bonjour, Mr. Hartenstein! Have a little bit of that left-handed dunk!’”

Her comment drew immediate attention, prompting play-by-play announcer Mike Breen to respond with, “What are you trying to start here?” Fans quickly took to social media to express their disappointment. One Twitter user posted, “Doris Burke tonight: 100% Crush on Gobert, 1 WW2 Joke, 134 ‘Cousin’ mentions. WORST COMMENTATOR OF ALL TIME.”

Some comments highlighted Burke’s choice of words regarding Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whom she referred to as a “free-throw merchant” when discussing his foul-drawing tactics. This also prompted negative reactions online, with fans questioning the appropriateness of her statements.

Despite the mixed reviews, some viewers defended Burke’s commentary. One user remarked, “Doris Burke is a great commentator.”

Burke remains a prominent figure in ESPN’s NBA coverage, as the network is set to carry the NBA Finals following the Western Conference playoffs. As of the game, the Thunder lead their series 3-1 after narrowly defeating the Timberwolves 128-126.