Amazon nearing deal to hire Kevin Harlan as announcer for NBA games

Kevin Harlan is taking his NBA talents to Amazon. The longtime broadcaster is nearing a deal with the company to be “its No.2 play-by-player when it begins NBA coverage later this year,” according to a report from The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand. Harlan joins Ian Eagle, who The Post reported in October was “in serious talks” to join Amazon Prime Video, as the streaming service’s top voice.The Athletic reported Eagle will be the top play-by-play voice for the streamer. Harlan, 64, is an NBA play-by-play announcer for TNT Sports and has NFL and college football duties with CBS. Earlier this month, The Athletic reported that Amazon was bringing in former NBA stars Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin alongside host Taylor Rooks for its studio show beginning the 2025-26 season. Amazon is still reportedly figuring out who will serve as game analysts alongside Eagle and Harlan, although Dwyane Wade, ESPN’s Richard Jefferson and TNT’s Stan Van Gundy are in the conversation. The company is also reportedly in talks with TNT Sports’ Charles Barkley, who sits alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal on the popular “Inside the NBA,” on a potential deal. The NBA is entering a new media rights era later next season after adding Amazon and NBC Sports — in addition to incumbent ESPN/ABC — and ending their decades-long partnership with Warner Bros.

Discovery, TNT’s parent company. Amazon is set to pay about $1.8 billion for its NBA package, which includes rights to regular-season and playoff games, the NBA Cup and the play-in tournament games.The deal continues Amazon’s entry into live sports right after becoming the NFL’s exclusive “Thursday Night Football” broadcaster in 2022 with a powerhouse duo of Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit in the booth....