Jim Durham

Jim Durham (born February 12, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American sportscaster.

Since 1995, he has called numerous National Basketball Association games for ESPN and ESPN Radio. Durham has spent more than 32 years calling NBA games on TV and radio; his previous assignments were with the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks, TNT and TBS. With the Bulls, he was the play-by-play announcer when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and their teammates won the 1991 NBA championship. In 1999, Durham called men's NCAA basketball tournament games for CBS.

Early career

Early in his career, Durham worked on WJBC radio in Bloomington, Illinois. During his time there, he covered the career of Illinois State University basketball star Doug Collins, later coincidentally the coach of the Bulls during the early Jordan years in Chicago, including the famous call listed below.

"The Shot"

Jim Durham's most memorable call is arguably his narration of "The Shot" by Michael Jordan in Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference First Round between the Bulls and Cavs:

“

The inbounds pass comes in to Jordan. Here's Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo...GOOD! THE BULLS WIN IT! THEY WIN IT! They upset the Cleveland Cavaliers! Michael Jordan hits it at the foul line! 101-100! 20,273 in stunned silence here in the Coliseum. Michael Jordan with 44 points in a game hit the shot over Craig Ehlo. What tremendous heroics we have had in Game 5. From both teams, what a spectacular series this has been. In my days in the NBA, 16 years, this is the greatest series I've ever seen!

”

Major League Baseball

Durham has also done play-by-play for Major League Baseball. In the 1980s for the Houston Astros, 1989-1990 for the Chicago White Sox, and for ESPN Radio since 1998.

External links

• Jim Durham ESPN Bio