Jun 5, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; TV analyst and former player Richard Jefferson during the NBA Finals Media Day at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
When it comes to anonymous sources, Richard Jefferson isn’t a fan in any situation.
That includes The Athletic’s anonymous players poll, which famously proclaimed Tyrese Haliburton the most overrated player in the league.
Initially released this past April, that poll has since aged like milk. And with Haliburton having led the Indiana Pacers on an improbable run to the NBA Finals, Jefferson took aim at such sources during Game 2 on Sunday night.
“All the talk was about that anonymous poll in The Athletic where he was voted the most overrated,” play-by-play man Mike Breen said during a segment regarding Haliburton’s late-game heroics. “I think if they re-vote, he’s going to get the most underrated clutch player of all time.”
“Oh listen, forget the vote. I’ve never liked anonymous sources in any situation,” Jefferson said. “If you want to hide, and my thing is, if you want to talk about Tyrese Halliburton in that moment, say it with your chest. Don’t give me a hidden player that wants to say something.”
Of course, such a poll likely wouldn’t have been possible had The Athletic not granted its voters anonymity, which might be Jefferson’s point. Then again, it’s also worth noting that the ESPN analyst emphasized that he’s “never liked anonymous sources in any situation.”
After all, Jefferson’s comments came just days after another report in The Athletic that revealed that fellow analyst Doris Burke isn’t a lock to return to ESPN’s top NBA booth next season. Making an appearance during ESPN’s coverage of the Women’s College World Series on Friday, the former NBA swingman donned a t-shirt that read “My Favorite Broadcaster is Doris Burke” in addition to verbally expressing support for his co-worker during an appearance on Jimmy Traina’s SI Media Podcast.
“Doris, I always call her the godmother of basketball, because she has had to deal with so much bullsh*t for the past 30 years in this industry,” the former Arizona star said. “She’s one of the best. And so those are the people you’re excited to be teammates with, because they make you better, you make them better. And I think our chemistry is only going to continue to grow.”
As for his comment on Sunday night, Jefferson only appeared to be commenting on the anonymous poll results regarding Haliburton. But his statement also provided some insight into how he likely feels about the recent reporting regarding his own broadcast team amid its first time calling the NBA Finals together.