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The NBA officially announced its new national media rights deal on Wednesday, moving forward with plans to add Amazon and NBC as two new partners alongside ESPN. A legal fight could be coming regarding TNT’s effort to match the Amazon package, but the NBA denied that the network can meet the full breadth of the offer from Amazon, which extends far beyond just the dollar amount.

The expectation is that gets resolved prior to an actual court battle and the NBA will get its wish to go forward with the package as planned. What will be most interesting from a fan perspective with the new media deal is how the new networks build out their game and studio coverage. We know what ESPN’s coverage will likely look like, but Amazon and NBC have a chance to build something from scratch, which could breathe some freshness into the national coverage of the league.

The future of the Inside the NBA crew hangs over everything, as every network will be chasing them as the gold standard of sports television. Amazon and ESPN are reportedly interested in the entire crew, although the likelihood of that happening is slim to none by all accounts. The only avenue that seems possible is Charles Barkley’s idea to sign the crew to his production company and then sell the show as a whole to a network, and even that’s iffy given contracts already signed.

Beyond that, every network will be interested in Barkley individually, and Shaq and Kenny Smith figure to garner plenty of interest as well — Ernie Johnson is expected to stay with Turner, continuing in his roles on MLB and NCAA Tournament. It’d be surprising if all four members of the Inside crew were simply not part of NBA coverage in 2025-26, but it’s also hard to figure out exactly who would go where.

As such, we decided to draft game and studio teams for Amazon (Robby) and NBC (Bill) with the Inside fellas excluded, understanding that any of them can basically pick their landing spot if they want. Everyone else was on the table, from established talent at TNT and even ESPN (if you could elevate their role to convince them to leave) to folks from team broadcasts, podcasters, and recently retired players. NBC started with Mike Tirico in the lead play-by-play slot and Maria Taylor in the lead studio host spot, as those seem like locks barring one of them leaving the network altogether. Otherwise, it’s a blank slate for both, and we alternated picks for 3 play-by-play announcers, four game analysts (two for the lead booth), a studio host, and three studio analysts.

NBC

Lead Broadcast Team: Mike Tirico, Jamal Crawford, and Jim Jackson

It’s been reported that Tirico is going to be the lead broadcaster for NBC, which isn’t a surprise, as he is the voice of the network’s NFL broadcasts and has called NBA games in the past when he was at ESPN — he was on the call when Damian Lillard eliminated the Houston Rockets from the playoffs back in 2014.

Crawford was a no-brainer pick for me. I think if either NBC or Amazon are really smart, they’re grabbing him immediately and banking on him to be next big thing in NBA broadcasting — he’s been great in the studio for Turner whenever he’s been in that role, and I thought he was excellent when he moved into the booth for specific games this past season, particularly during the playoffs as a member of a three-man group with Kevin Harland and Reggie Miller. And if NBC wants to pair him with someone more experienced, bringing Jackson over from Turner’s roster of NBA broadcasters as someone who clearly cares and brings a terrific personality to broadcasts is obvious. This would immediately become one of my favorite booths in the sport.

Broadcast Team 2: Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade

I won’t write too terribly much about this duo since I did that here, but they’re incredibly good together. The only things that I could foresee being issues are Wade being a busy guy who might not be able to dedicate time to this, and one of his off-court ventures being his ownership stake in the Utah Jazz. But there’s time to get both of those figured out.

Broadcast Team 3: Adam Amin and Stacey King

Adam Amin had to be my third play-by-play guy. Every time I have ever watched him call a game in any sport, I’ve been blown away by how good he is at his job — he’s super well-prepared, he’s great at banter during a game, and he’s awesome during big moments. And obviously, if I am getting Adam Amin, I need to get Stacey King, his wonderful partner on Chicago Bulls broadcasts. Would Amin do this when he has NFL and MLB responsibilities for Fox? Would King leave for a national gig? Who knows! But this is all in good fun, and when I want to hear a fun NBA broadcast, I throw on a Bulls game.

Studio Crew: Maria Taylor, Candace Parker, Tim Legler, and Raja Bell

It’s just common sense to put Maria Taylor as the host of the studio show. Assuming she would want to do this right after football season — she hosts NBC’s Big Ten and NFL pregame shows, so it’d make sense if she wants a break — you take the former NBA Countdown host and have her host whatever NBC’s show is.

Parker was always going to be my first pick for a voice in the studio, and if NBC wants to make a splash, giving Legler this platform is the exact sort of move that would apply, as he’s the best analyst ESPN has but has always felt like he doesn’t have a big enough role. The two are incredibly smart, are excellent at discussing the game, and aren’t afraid to be really honest when the situation demands it. As for Bell, I wanted the final spot to go to someone a little more off the wall, and every time I’ve caught him on the “Real Ones” podcast, I’ve thought he’s the kind of big personality who can breathe a little life into a studio show. Or they can just give Charles Barkley a lot of money.

Amazon

Lead Broadcast Team: Ian Eagle, Sarah Kustok, and Blake Griffin

There have been reports already that Ian Eagle is the top target for Amazon’s lead play-by-play spot and for good reason. The 55-year-old is a veteran who is finally getting the spotlight after being elevated to CBS’ lead booth for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and has been phenomenal calling NBA games on TNT for years. As for his partners, I’d go with someone he has tremendous rapport with already in Sarah Kustok, who is spectacular alongside Bird on YES Network calling Brooklyn Nets games, and then a guy I think should be on every network’s wishlist, Blake Griffin. He’s incredibly comfortable in front of a mic, and while I don’t know if he has aspirations of calling games, I think he’d be a fantastic fit as part of a booth with Eagle and Kustok.

Broadcast Team 2: Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller

I can’t break up Harlan and Reggie. I know Miller’s not everyone’s favorite, but I fall on the Reggie is fun and good side of things, especially when he’s calling games with Harlan because their energy and enthusiasm is terrific. I think Reggie could also very well end up in play for ESPN’s lead booth after next season, but I’d prefer to see him stay with Harlan.

Broadcast Team 3: Michael Grady and Vince Carter

Michael Grady is a rising star in the play-by-play world and I think one of the new networks needs to scoop him up as a regular national broadcaster. He’s been fantastic in Minnesota and made his national debut this past postseason with TNT. As for who to partner with him, I was going to go Jim Jackson before Bill scooped him up at NBC, but Vince Carter would also be a good fit. Carter is good at just about everything he’s done on TV, from studio to game work, and I think he and Grady could become a fan favorite team.

Studio Crew: Cassidy Hubbarth, Andre Iguodala, Channing Frye, and Jalen Rose

For studio host, I think Amazon might go a similar route they went with Thursday Night Football, going with an established voice in Cassidy Hubbarth but giving her a step up in platform. Hubbarth is fantastic as a studio host and on sidelines, but there’s not a ton of upward mobility available to her at ESPN right now, as Lisa Salters has a lock on top sideline duty for as long as she wants it and Malika Andrews has established herself as the rising star of studio hosts at the network. That could provide an opportunity for Amazon to swoop in and poach her away for a leading role in studio.

I also think they’ll follow a similar route to their TNF construction when it comes to their NBA studio show, looking to go fairly young and lean on personality and fun, with one established analyst alongside. Iguodala and Frye are terrific on camera but aren’t so polished they shy away from saying what’s on their mind at any given time. I think this group would reinvigorate Jalen Rose, who by the end at ESPN seemed pretty beaten down by the revolving door of NBA Countdown, and remind folks that at his best, Rose is one of the more entertaining players turned TV personalities we’ve seen.

Last week, Top Dawg Entertainment singer SiR kicked off the renamed tour for his new album Heavy in Silver Springs, Maryland. The Life Is Good tour — retitled from the Bad Karma tour — doesn’t just encompass his new album, though; he also performs standouts from his 2019 album, Chasing Summer, its 2018 predecessor, November, his debut album, Seven Sundays, and his 2017 EP, Her Too. You can see the full setlist below, courtesy of setlist.fm.

01. “Heavy (Intro)”
02. “Karma”
03. “John Redcorn”
04. “You Can’t Save Me”
05. “Dreaming of Me”
06. “The Canvas”
07. “Mood” (with Zacari)
08. “Interview” (interlude)
09. “Six Whole Days”
10. “No Evil”
11. “You”
12. “Ricky’s Song”
13. “Tryin’ My Hardest”
14. “Only Human (Part 1)”
15. “Ooh Nah Nah”
16. “Fire”
17. “Only Human (Part 2)”
18. “Satisfaction”
19. “The Recipe” (with Davion Farris)
20. “Something Foreign”
21. “Summer In November”
22. “Love You”
23. “Jay Z” (audience request, with band)
24. “Poetry in Motion”
25. “Nothing Even Matters”
26. “Hair Down”
27. “D’Evils”
Encore:
28. “Something New”
29. “Life Is Good”

SiR 2024 Tour Dates

07/29 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
07/30 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
08/02 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
08/06 — Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
08/07 — Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
08/08 — Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
08/10 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues Houston
08/11 — Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin
08/13 — Denver, CO @ Summit
08/15 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
08/16 — Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim
08/17 — San Diego, CA @ SOMA
08/20 — San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
08/21 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium

Alexandra Daddario introduced a monster while filming Mayfair Witches season 2: a “vomit monster.”

The actress publicly announced her pregnancy earlier this month, but she tried to keep it a secret during production of the AMC series. “Alex had a giant secret,” actor Ben Feldman, who plays the love interest of Daddario’s character Rowan Fielding in season 2, told Entertainment Weekly. “Alex was at home with her secret every night.”

Daddario didn’t always do the best job of hiding it. “One time I threw up right outside my trailer, and my best friend had to hose it down,” The White Lotus star said. “I was like, ‘Can someone get me a sandwich please? And no cold cuts please?’ Ben was like, ‘Are you pregnant? And I’m like, ‘That’s none of your business, and by the way, get me some watermelon.’”

Daddario referred to herself as a “vomit monster,” which added a, um, fun challenge for her “make-out scenes” with Feldman, who also played Ginsberg on Mad Men. “I was the love interest who had to kiss the person who was puking,” he said. Meanwhile, Daddario was like, “I just threw up, let’s go for it.” Still sounds better than having to cut your own nipple off.

Mayfair Witches season 2 does not currently have a premiere date, but you can watch a first-look teaser for the season below.

(Via Entertainment Weekly)

Eve’s “Who’s That Girl?” came on, and Kahleah Copper reflexively started dancing. “Y’all know where Eve’s from?” the Phoenix Mercury guard asked. “Eve’s from my city!” Copper takes Philadelphia with her everywhere she goes, including a back room at Toca Madera in Scottsdale, Arizona during 2024 WNBA All-Star Weekend.

Two days later, adidas Basketball unveiled Copper’s “Just A Kid From Norf Philly” Exhibit Select 2.0 PE. Copper, 29, designed the sneaker in honor of her hometown and its underlying influence throughout her WNBA career — from becoming the Washington Mystics’ seventh overall pick in 2016 to developing into a 2021 WNBA Finals MVP with the Chicago Sky and unlocking yet another level as Phoenix’s leading scorer this season.

Back at Toca Madera, Copper had taken the stage at Candace Parker’s surprise retirement party. They were teammates in Chicago from 2021-22 and captured the franchise’s only championship together. Copper recalled hanging posters of Parker on her walls, making it all the more surreal when Parker eventually told Copper, “You’re a superstar.” Parker took Copper under her wing in Chicago, showing her what excellence requires, even if that meant Copper had to stop eating Denny’s as much as she’d like.

Since the Chicago Sky traded Copper to Phoenix in February, Copper has made the leap into being a full-on superstar. The four-time All-Star has left the Phoenix faithful with no choice but to embrace her as their own. That was overwhelmingly evident at Footprint Center for the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where the crowd erupted when Copper was introduced as a member of Team USA.

Before heading off to the 2024 Paris Olympics, Copper dished to DIME about playing with Diana Taurasi, wanting to win at all costs, and realizing her long-held Olympic dreams.

How do you feel adidas’ investment in you?

We’re being intentional. [adidas] understands your roster, understands each individual player, what they’re interested in, what they like on and off the court. Me being a player, being a part of a brand and seeing someone like Candace Parker, who has done so much for the game to then retire and be put in a position [as President of Women’s Basketball] to still have success and to still be able to pour into adidas roster that we have. I think that was the biggest thing for me: Being intentional and setting the standard for a brand being a part of women’s basketball.

I spoke with DT last month, and she said that your attitude immediately affected the culture in Phoenix. What about playing in Phoenix has reinvigorated you?

I think just being with competitors, being with winners, being with players who have won at the highest level and understand what it takes — what sacrifices you have to make in order to have success. Being a part of a special group, and then being with a coaching staff that allows me to be myself, allows me to lead. I think that’s an incredible thing. I’m just trying to do whatever I can for my team to have success.

Was there a conversation or interaction early on with Diana that let you know, Oh, we’re going to get along just fine?

I think we talked at USA Basketball in February, and when I had a conversation with her, I understood that she wants to win — period. She does not care about who scored the points or anything outside of winning. That’s a testament to the culture here and who she is as a player.

You were presented with the No. 7 USA Basketball jersey, your lucky number. How has No. 7 most recently randomly appeared in your life?

Some creepy, creepy, creepy stuff. When I was named to the USA Olympic team, I talked about being the seventh [overall] pick [in the 2016 WNBA Draft]. And then, when I hit the game-winner [against Minnesota on June 7], you know what the clock said? It said 0.7. I said, “Nah.” Like, this is crazy.

I also loved how emotional you were after it was announced that you would be on the Olympic team — not because I enjoy seeing anyone cry, but because I think people who openly share how they care are the best people. At any point over the last three years, since narrowly missing the Tokyo 2020 roster, did you doubt that the Olympics would happen for you?

I don’t think I’ve ever doubted that it would happen, but I knew how hard it would be. I talk about my career now, and it’s like, I don’t think it seems easy, but as you see it, it’s like, yeah. But I think that was what made me the most emotional because I don’t think nobody really understands what it takes. It’s a grind every single day, and it’s just not easy navigating through adversity and staying confident in yourself and still having to put in the work every single day because you just never know.

What is your most significant sacrifice, other than not being able to eat Denny’s anymore?

[Laughs] Doing things I don’t want to do. I mean, I hate lifting weights. I literally hate it. I do not like it. And I just had a conversation with [Mercury head coach] Nate [Tibbetts] about doing sh*t you don’t want to do. I think that’s going to be important to the longevity of my career. It’s important for me to be stronger for the way that I play. So, sometimes you got to do sh*t you don’t want to do to continue to have success.

Do sh*t you don’t want to do so you can be who you want to be.

Come on! Speak!

You lead the league in 30-plus-point games, and you lead the Mercury in scoring. What is allowing you to play at such a high level right now?

This organization has been great. They have been taking care of me. Whatever it is that I need off the court. Shout out to Nate, my coach, who really believes in me and has this offense that I just fit in so perfectly. Shout out to my teammates, who also really believe in me and give me the confidence.

Does All-Star Weekend in Phoenix feel more significant, being celebrated and clearly already beloved in this city?

Most definitely. Being an Olympian is incredible. Being able to share these moments with my friends and family, I’ve just been having surreal moments.

What has felt the most surreal?

I think just the first time we got on the bus and headed to practice. We had a police escort. We were all just like, We headed to practice. We getting ready for the Olympics! For me, I was just sitting there like, It’s really happening. I’ve been telling myself I’m going relish in these moments more because I’m always chasing the next thing, but this is huge, so I’m really just trying to relish in it.

What sparks your competitive fire the most?

I just want to win. I just want to beat everybody. I want to be the best. I say, “Just a kid from North Philly” because I think the city ingrained that competitive spirit. That dog mentality.

What have you learned about yourself so far this season?

That I can handle anything. Literally. Anything that’s thrown at me, there’s nothing that can shake me or break me. Literally nothing.

(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent All American: Homecoming episode will be found below.)

It’s Monday which means there will be a new episode of All American: Homecoming later today. The fourth episodes in season three arrives as Simone and the rest of the Bringston crew are in the middle of a fight for their student-athlete rights. Her romance with Lando may restart as the two were able to somewhat patch things up after a bumpy start to begin the season. It all continues with this week’s episode, and here’s all the information you need to know about it:

When Will All American: Homecoming Season 3, Episode 4 Come Out?

The four episode of All American: Homecoming season three, titled “Control,” will arrive on July 29. The Avi Youabian-directed and Megan McNamara-written episode will be available on Monday, 7/29 on the CW TV channel at 9pm EST/PST. The episode will later be available to stream on the CW app and website at 3 am ET/12 am PT. A synopsis for “Control” can be found below:

It’s Simone’s 21st birthday and her friends turn out for her as she struggles to advocate for herself in another part of her life. Keisha is concerned that she hasn’t heard back from any graduate programs and Cam’s efforts to help only make things worse. Marcus struggles with making an important connection and JR talks to Lando about bringing baseball back to Bringston.

You can also watch a preview for All American: Homecoming season three, episode four below:

New episodes of ‘All American: Homecoming’ are available on CW TV on Mondays at 9 pm ET/PT and on the CW app and website at 3 am ET/12 am PT.

The Law & Order universe isn’t exactly a sunshiney world, but Organized Crime‘s tone is decidedly darker with Chris Meloni’s hilariously dragged Elliot Stabler diving into the criminal underworld with daring results. This spin off also isn’t as “episodic” as its predecessors (meaning that crimes are not handily solved within an episode, which happens plenty on SVU), and that structure lends itself to streaming success by encouraging bingewatching to keep following longer cases.

To that end, NBCUniversal made a call after Organized Crime finished a fourth-season run on NBC proper. The spin off will depart the NBC home of Law & Order and SVU (which were renewed weeks sooner) for a Peacock-exclusive move, after much extended speculation on whether the Stabler-centric show should continue. Fortunately, the latest cliffhanger finale will see resolution, and changes will come as well, so let’s talk about what could come next:

Plot

The series took off with octopus-fueled peril from Dylan McDermott’s villain (do you miss him?) and, more importantly, the death of Elliot Stabler’s wife, Kathy. This event has weighed heavily on Stabler’s mind, even amid sporadic suggestions that he and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) would become more than good friends and former detective partners. A mid-intervention declaration of love did complicate matters, but the franchise teases like that, and Stabler did bookend a fourth-season finale while visiting Kathy’s grave.

The cliffhanger ending of the fourth season, which saw Julian Emery/Redcoat and Joe Jr. (brother to Elliot Stabler) evade authorities, surely points to more family-linked drama (amid the drug-war-lording of the show’s current action) for the Peacock leg of the series. In actuality, Joe Jr. is now in great peril, and it remains to be seen exactly how much Emery has correctly deduced about their joint situation.

Of course, the resolution of this tricky situation will now take place at a new TV home, and the move to streaming suggests more freedom for the show to be more explicit, from language to racier content and violence. This bodes well for both more high-octane suspense on the chemical-weapon front but also — let’s face it — Chris Meloni does have a tendency to get undressed, so perhaps the spin off could lean further into the “zaddy” aspect of the leading man.

For now, a fifth season of ten episodes will surface, and we’ll see if this spin off finds future streaming seasons. If Organized Crime is ever cancelled for real, Mariska Hargitay has declared that she doesn’t see a reason why Stabler couldn’t move back to SVU if NBC and Meloni can arrive at a deal.

Cast

Chris Meloni will push forth with his second long-running stint as Elliot Stabler. The cast includes Ainsley Seiger, Danielle Moné Truitt, Rick Gonzalez, Brent Antonello, Jeffrey Donovan, and Nicky Torchia. Occasional crossovers from Mariska Hargitay are icing on the investigative cake.

Release Date

Currently, both Law & Order (Season 24) and Law & Order: SVU (Season 26) will return to NBC on October 3. However, Organized Crime‘s Peacock debut date hasn’t been released, so we don’t know if the three series will air simultaneously like in the past, or if Organized Crime will fill hiatus space.

Trailer

We can’t hope for a trailer yet, but there’s never a bad time to head back to a collection of first-season octopus scenes. Dylan McDermott, you are missed!

About one week ago, President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection, paving the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to campaign against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Harris will not be the official Democratic nominee until August’s Democratic National Convention, as explained by the Associated Press.

In the interim, Harris has become an internet icon. The Vice President embraced Brat summer, and even Beyoncé reportedly cleared “Freedom” for Harris’ use throughout her campaign.

Over the weekend, Harris’ trip to Washington, DC’s HR Records for Small Business Week in May 2023 resurfaced online. At the time, Harris stopped on the sidewalk to show that she’d bought vinyls of Charles Mingus’ Let My Children Hear Music, Roy Ayers’ Everybody Loves The Sunshine, and Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s Porgy And Bess. Well, people on the internet didn’t want to limit Harris to three vinyls, so someone going by @said_mitch on X (formerly Twitter) created the “Kamala Holding Vinyl” meme generator.

The obvious choice would be to generate the Vice President holding Charli XCX’s Brat, which Mitch did, as seen below:

Mitch’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, as countless people submitted their vinyl choices for Harris, and Questlove even posted, “Bless you.”

See all of the posts below, including Harris’ original post.

House of the Dragon season two is heating up (literally) with even more dragon content, as promised by the name. But if dragon battles were an Olympic sport, Team Black would already be favored to win the gold at this point.

In episode 7, Rhaenyra recruits two new riders for Team Black, bringing their roster to a whopping seven dragons: Rhaenyra and Syrax, Jacaerys and Vermax, Baela and Moondancer, Darmon and Caraxes, Addam and Seasmoke, plus the two new pairs: Hugh and Vermithor, and Ulf and Silvering. Of course, we lost Rhaenys and Meleys back at Rook’s Rest, but Team Black still has the upper hand, though there are still some dragon free agents that could be claimed.

As for Team Green, they’ve got the almighty Vhagar on their side, but will that be enough? Sunfyre was injured at Rook’s Rest along with Aegon, so we can’t count on them. Episode 7 also hinted at the appearance of Daeron, Aemond and Aegon’s younger brother who we haven’t seen yet. He has the young but powerful dragon Tessarion. There’s also Helaena and Dreamfyre, though we have yet to see Helaena mount her dragon, which was teased in the season finale trailer.

So how do these teams match up? Even though Team Black has power in numbers, Vhagar is one of the most powerful dragons in the Thrones universe, but she doesn’t have much backup until the others recover. Maybe they should check out How To Train Your Dragon before there are any more catastrophic injuries. It’s streaming on Peacock!

The House of the Dragon season finale airs on Sunday, August 4th.

NBC is getting back into the NBA game. As part of the league’s new media rights deal, NBCUniversal came in with a monster bid to get the league’s “B” package, which means that the NBA is returning to a network that it called home for more than 20 years. Also: Roundball Rock is coming back! That’s good as hell.

Anyway, the No. 1 thing that NBC (and Amazon, as well) will need to figure out is its presentation for big games. Yes, the studio show is important, especially if one of the networks can figure out how to get Charles Barkley on board. But as we’ve seen, investing in making sure your broadcast feels like a big deal can go a long way — this was a major gripe we had with ESPN’s presentation of the NBA Finals this past year.

A good announce team can go a long way in this regard. How you define “good” is up to you, because while some folks want a duo that features a play-by-play who stays out of the way while the analyst tells you on the fly everything about the nitty-gritty of basketball, others just want a few people who are having fun and scream when cool things happen. There’s no right answer to what makes a good broadcast booth — well, other than “have Mike Breen involved” — but generally, you can tell when you’re listening to something good when you throw on a game and pay attention.

All of this is to say that NBC appears to have something special with Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade. The pair are calling the biggest Olympic basketball games together in Paris, and have been fantastic on the few occasions (to this point) that we’ve heard them on the call. There is an obvious chemistry that the two share — I have no idea how much time they put into building up that chemistry in the lead-up to the Olympics, but if you told me they worked hard on it, I’d totally believe you.

Eagle, the son of Ian Eagle, has been a rising star in sports media for quite some time, as he’s called a handful of sports — including basketball for the Los Angeles Clippers’ radio crew — and currently is with NBC doing Big Ten football and basketball. Wade is not perfect as an analyst, as he got a little overzealous in going to his newfound catchphrases over and over (“I know him personally, and his pronouns are he/him”, Bam Adebayo’s name, etc.) during the first USA game. But he’s also brand new to this, so these little quirks that he’s figuring out in real time are all totally fine.

The important thing: It is very clear that both of them love this, and they’re celebrating the athletes and the game of basketball every time they’re on the call. You can go a long way just off of passion as a broadcaster, and both Eagle and Wade have that, along with the crucial mix of the polish of veterans and the breath of fresh air that can only come when you’re new to an audience. Listen to how much fun both of them are clearly having in some of these clips.

To bring this back around to NBC getting NBA media rights starting in 2025, it’s pretty clear to me from listening to these two work together that they should undoubtedly be the No. 1 booth for the network. Mike Tirico, who is good at calling every sport, is apparently in line to take over as the top play-by-play man, while it seems safe to assume that this is serving as Wade’s audition for the top color commentator spot if he wants it.

Don’t get me wrong, a Tirico-Wade booth would be great, but why mess with what’s working? Eagle and Wade are getting one of the biggest stages in sports and knocking it out of the park already, and are showing signs of being the sort of partnership that NBC can (and should) rely on for years. NBC has plenty of time to figure all of this out, and hopefully when they do, they keep this booth together and let it carry them into the future.

With its distinctive twin peaks (resembling the head and back of a camel), Camelback Mountain is a Phoenix landmark and a mainstay for local and visiting hikers. The popular hike offers stunning desert vistas and a challenging climb, but don’t be fooled; the trek to the summit of this 2,706-foot mountain is not easy.

So before you lace up your boots and get on the road to the trailhead, be sure to prepare for what’s ahead – here’s your complete guide.

How To Get To Camelback From Phoenix:

Camelback Mountain is just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, but before you get into your car and hit the road you’ll need to decide which of the two trailheads to the summit you want to hike – Echo Canyon or Cholla. Echo Canyon has a dedicated parking lot with restrooms and water, but is often packed – so leave early. Cholla Trail is street parking only in designated spots on Invergordon Road.

It’s important to note that parking in both areas are limited and fill up quickly, especially during peak season (October-April). Arrive early or consider using public transportation options so you’re not stuck spending the morning circling for a spot.

Echo Canyon vs. Cholla

Echo Canyon Trail:

Echo Canyon is considered the more challenging of the two trails to the summit of Camelback, with steeper inclines and sections that require some scrambling over large rocks. But after the grueling 1,2312 ft climb to the 2,680 ft summit, hikers are rewarded with panoramic views encompassing Phoenix and the surrounding desert landscape.

There is very limited shade on this trail, so plan your hike for the cooler morning hours and bring plenty of water, especially during the summer when hiking here can be dangerous.

Length: 2.6 miles round trip
Difficulty: Hard

Cholla Trail:

The Cholla Trail is considered the “easier” option for summiting Camelback, but it is still rated as “hard” and is not for the faint of heart. With a slightly more gradual ascent with switchbacks, it is still steep and involves rock scrambling near the summit. Mostly exposed, try to hike outside of the hot mid-day hours – especially in the warmer months – and bring plenty of food and water.

Length: 3 miles round trip
Difficulty: Hard

General Tips And Safety Concerns For Both Trails:

Be Aware Of The Weather:

Phoenix temperatures famously soar, so avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day (on days with excessive heat warnings the trail actually closes from 11am to 5pm). Heat related injuries happen here frequently so keep your eye on the time, temperature and bring plenty of food and water. Also check the forecast for potential rain or high winds, which can make the already sometimes slippery trails more dangerous.

Bring The Right Gear:

You’ll want to wear sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support as both trails are rocky and steep with portions of scrambling. Sunscreen, a sunhat, and sunglasses are also essential. Note that dogs are prohibited on both trails.

Minimize Your Impact:

As always, remember to respect the environment and follow Leave No Trace principles – plan ahead and prepare, stay on durable surfaces, pack out all of your trash, leave what you find, respect wildlife, and be considerate of others (hikers ascending have the right of way).

Safety First:

Visitors may underestimate how strenuous Camelback Mountain is due to its popularity, but it’s important to always be honest with yourself about your physical capabilities and choose the trail that best suits your experience level – even if it’s one nearby that is not as strenuous. Always let someone know your planned route and estimated return time, be aware of your surroundings, watch for loose rocks, take as many breaks as needed, and don’t hesitate to turn back if you feel unsafe at any point.

Exploring Other Nearby Hikes

Whether you conquer Camelback or decide you want something more low-key, you are in luck, as Phoenix has an incredibly diverse amount of accessible hiking terrain near the city. Here are some suggestions:

Tom’s Thumb Trail – McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Just slightly further out of town and Northeast of Scottsdale is the vast McDowell Sonoran Preserve and the popular Tom’s Thumb Trail. At 4 miles out and back it has an elevation gain of 1,217 feet through a series of switchbacks (the first mile can be tough) that lead to incredible views of the surrounding mountains.

Length: 4 miles out and back
Difficulty: Moderate

Piestewa Peak — Phoenix Mountain Preserve

This is another challenging hike that offers panoramic city views but a different desert experience compared to Camelback. The trail features steep incline, stairs, and switchbacks before a final push to the summit with stunning vistas.

Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: Hard

Wind Cave Trail – Usery Mountain Regional Park

In nearby Mesa, but still within the Phoenix metro, lies Usery Mountain Regional Park. The park is an ideal place for biking and hiking close to town, especially the popular Wind Cave Trail. The hike starts out relatively easy and becomes steeper with some scrambling to reach the “cave” with views of Pheonix.

Length: 3.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Dixie Mountain Loop Trail – Phoenix Sonoran Desert Preserve

The Dixie Mountain Loop Trail is longer than the other options, but with just a 967 ft elevation gain, it is not as challenging or steep as Camelback. The trail is teeming with lush plant life and interesting vegetation – be on the lookout for the Teddy Bear Cholla Forest.

Length: 5.1 miles
Difficulty: Moderate

Gateway Loop Trail – McDowell Sonoran Preserve

I love hiking the Gateway Loop Trail at McDowell Sonoran Preserve for expansive desert views and a less elevation gain (721 ft). The trail is rocky, but with an abundance of plant life and wildlife.

Length: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate