Candace Parker set to make history at NBA All-Star game
Parker is the first woman to color commentate the game in its 72 years
Candace Parker on Los Angeles during a game against the Minnesota Lynx.
February 16, 2023
The NBA is set to host its 72nd annual All-Star game on TNT, however, there is something different about this game. For the first time, a woman will provide color commentary for fans across the world.
Candace Parker, who has called several NBA games this season through Turner Sports, will work alongside Draymond Green and play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson to call the game, according to The Athletic.
Parker has also worked on “Inside the NBA” on TNT as an analyst and frequent commentator since 2018, so her being chosen to call the All-Star game has been a long time coming.
Not only has she been doing a fantastic job in the broadcasting realm of the NBA, she still is actively competing in the WNBA at an extremely high level. She has been an All-Star the past two seasons, having made six appearances throughout her entire career.
The two-time champion of the WNBA and two-time MVP has averaged 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for her career thus far. She is a lock for the Hall of Fame whenever she decides to call her playing career over and her broadcasting career with reach a new stratosphere when that does happen.
“I’m a fan first and foremost of the NBA and especially the All-Star Game,” Parker said. “And so I think the fan of the game and the childhood Candace is—I have to pinch myself to believe that I’m doing it and that I’m able to have a courtside seat to see the best players in the world.”
Despite it taking far too long for there to be a woman calling the All-Star game on color commentary, Parker is one of the most qualified in the business and will do a fantastic job. With Parker, Doris Burke, Rachel Nichols and so many other amazing women in the broadcasting field, things are improving at a steady pace in their representation.
”It’s a huge honor to be able to do that and hopefully to inspire others to take that step and understand that it’s beneficial to have a diversity of thought and diversity of people that are covering games,” Parker told Sports Illustrated.
The NBA All-Star Game will be broadcasted at 5 p.m. Sunday and will be available on national TV on TNT.
