On Sunday, longtime ESPN announcer Mark Jones is ending his run at ESPN, a tenure that lasted an incredible 36 years.
Jones, 64, began his sports media career after finishing his basketball playing career at York University in Canada.
He spoke with an executive from The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada after his team lost in their tournament and asked him for a job. That conversation led to an internship where, in 1986, he started working for the network logging NBA games for the network and making $35 a shift.
“My job entailed watching NBA games on a monitor and logging highlights to write up highlight packages for the anchors that night,” Jones told the Sacramento Kings Conversations with Deuce & Mo podcast.
Despite the low pay, that job helped him find his calling. So after watching those highlights and writing those scripts, he decided to make it a career. He worked hard, got a field reporter job with TSN for two years and was eventually promoted to anchor.
But it was a chance meeting with Bryant Gumbel in Canada during the Toronto Blue Jays vs Oakland A’s playoff series that pushed him into overdrive.
Jones approached Gumbel, introduced himself and told him that he wanted to call games like he did. The broadcast legend told him what he didn’t expect but was grateful to hear.
“Young man, I watched your sportscast last night. You’re ready right now,” Jones said Gumbel told him.
Following that interaction, Jones put together a demo tape, secured representation and in 1990, ESPN came calling.
That year he left TSN that year, moved to Bristol, CT and began a stint with ESPN that lasted over three decades, one that saw him become one of the primary play-by-play voices in the network’s NBA and college football broadcasts.
He rose to become ESPN’s no.2 NBA play-by-play announcer behind Mike Breen and company, and ended up calling two NBA Finals games in 2022 after Breen tested positive for COVID.
“Mark has made an enduring impact at ESPN since 1990, serving as a signature voice primarily within our NBA and college football coverage and across nearly all of our platforms,” ESPN said in a statement. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions, and we wish him continued success.”
Jones also was also part ESPN’s coverage of the UFL, the WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball and other events such as track and field and gymnastics.
In 2020, Jones became the play-by-play voice of the Sacramento Kings, and the primary play-by-play voice for the team is a role he plans on continuing.
“My plan is to be here for a long, long time,” Jones said to the Sacramento Bee on Friday. “I love it here and I’ve been warmly received by the Kings.”
So while Jones is leaving ESPN, fans will still be able to watch him on air, particularly in Sacramento.
“It’s been a memorable journey these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I have decided that it’s time to move on,” Jones posted on Bluesky Friday. “From the day Dennis Swanson hired me in 1990 and working with the best producer in the business, Kim Belton, until today, I will forever be grateful for the many friends and colleagues along the way.”
Jones’ last game on ESPN is Sunday April 12th when he calls the Celtics vs Magic game.
Congrats to Mark Jones on an amazing run at ESPN and we wish him the best as he continues to be heard across the sports landscape.
