Richard Jefferson announces his plan to retire from the NBA booth
While most broadcasters announce their retirement a year or less before it’s official, the ESPN announcer Richard Jefferson gives a five-year notice. Jefferson is never afraid to deliver hotespecially those that come from the experience of a former NBA player.
As the father of two boys, both of whom will enter their teenage years within the next five years, Jefferson found out why he will be putting down the microphone and headphones by 2030, he said, according to ESPN’s Road Trippin’.
“That’s why I’m retiring from broadcasting at 50. So, listen up everybody, at 50 I’m going to be done with all this,” Jefferson said. “My boys are going to be 13 and 15. I would have done this for 10 years. So I have five more years. I’m 45. So I’m announcing my five-year retirement for this specific reason. Because I’m so obsessed with my two boys. So at those ages, I want to be there for all their high school games and all that stuff.
“I don’t miss Christmas. I don’t do those things anymore. So I’m officially announcing my retirement at 50.”
Richard Jefferson, who works for ESPN/ABC and covers NBA games, says that when his two sons turn 13 and 15, he will retire to be there for them in their athletic careers.
Richard Jefferson’s honest look at the game with LeBron James
Former NBA forward Richard Jefferson won a championship along with LeBron James with the Cavs in 2016. However, Jefferson revealed why playing next to James wasn’t always fun, he explained, on Road Trippin’.
“It’s terrible to play with LeBron because you’re trying to win a championship. He’s one of the most competitive human beings in the history of American sports,” Jefferson said.
He went on to explain how James’ discipline and preparation raises expectations across the roster.
“Is it shitty when you show up and he’s already practiced for four hours and you’re like, oh s**s… when he’s watching film and you screw up the play and he’s like, f*ck, what are you doing? And like, yeah, those are cons.”
The next NBA telecast on ESPN is scheduled for Tuesday’s game between the Timberwolves and the Thunder.
2025-11-21 21:35:00
