Was there anyone who didn’t think Shane Battier was going to go into broadcasting after his NBA career ended? Well, outside the Michigan Democratic Party?
Battier will become an ESPN College basketball analyst after the season, reports The Big Lead. Battier has said repeatedly this will be his last season, but you can’t expect him or anyone else to talk about this right now as he’s still a tad busy right now with the Miami Heat as they prepare for a rematch with the San Antonio Spurs.
Shane Battier, who said two months ago that he would be retiring after this NBA season barring an “act of God,” has agreed to a multi-year TV deal with ESPN to be a college basketball analyst next season, multiple sources have told The Big Lead.
It’s unclear yet if ESPN will use Battier, 35, as a game analyst, in the studio, or on the set of College Gameday, which is being revamped.
He’d be good in any format.
Battier spent four years at Duke and was the 2001 AP Player of the Year and John Wooden Award winner. He was a two-time All-American at Duke before being the No. 6 pick of the Memphis Grizzlies that year.
Battier has had a 13-year NBA career, was twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2008 and 2009 when he was in Houston) and he has been a “3 and D” specialist for the Miami Heat during their two title runs.
He’s also a go-to guy for media members looking for a good quote — he’s thoughtful and is fantastic at expressing the details of the game in a way that’s not just coach speak (or management speak). He will be great for ESPN.
Once he finishes his day job.