If you are tuning into this Sunday's season premiere of "KIA NBA Countdown" prior to the Christmas Day twinbill with Heat/Mavericks & Bulls/Lakers on ABC starting at 1p (CT) as well as the Christmas Night doubleheader with Magic/Thunder & Clippers/Warriors on ESPN starting at 7p, you'll notice some changes in the ESPN-produced NBA pregame show this season.

For starters, "Countdown" will relocate from its previous homes inside New York's Times Square & ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, CT and will now call Los Angeles home. The show will relocate to ESPN's L.A. LIVE studio across the street from STAPLES Center where the Lakers & Clippers play. This is the same studio complex that anchors Neil Everett & Stan Verrett host the Midnight-ish showing of "SportsCenter" weeknights on ESPN.

Another thing you'll notice...Neither Stuart "Booyah Boy" Scott nor Hannah Storm will be hosting "Countdown" this season. While "Pardon the Interruption" co-host & ESPNChicago.com's Michael Wilbon and analyst Jon Barry both return, producers are expanding Earvin "Magic" Johnson's role throughout the season on both ESPN & ABC as a featured analyst. Johnson will also provide one-on-one interviews with the NBA's biggest stars and will also contribute analysis on "SportsCenter", ESPNEWS and other network platforms. New to the show this season is a guy that has been all over the ESPN family of networks the last couple of years, ESPN.com NBA Insider Chris Broussard.

Producers are also adding different wrinkles to the new look "Countdown" show Sunday afternoons on ABC, plus Wednesday & Friday nights on ESPN. A roundtable will discuss issues pertaining to the league, along with increased access to the NBA's top stars, and even the use of social media. Fans will be encouraged to submit questions and the show's hosts and/or analysts will try to answer them.

"We're reinventing our NBA pregame experience with a new studio and a less scripted, more dynamic show," said ESPN Executive V.P. of Production Norby Williamson. "We're thrilled Magic has agreed to expand his role and look forward to his consistent presence throughout the entire season."

Needless to say, Johnson is also excited to be expanding his role with the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" and the new look "Countdown" starting before ABC's doubleheader Christmas Day. "It's been a lot of fun working with ESPN & its NBA team the last four years," Johnson said. "I've enjoyed it so much I'm looking forward to making even more appearances this season and I'm very excited about the show moving to L.A."

good. any news that there's going to be less stuart scott in my life is good news to me. wilbon's fine so expanding his role works out, and i'm amazed that you didn't do one of your patented SHARK "nicknames" for chris broussard... his voice is so poignant and bold that you think you wouldn't be able to see him after 5pm, but like, he's just kind of there and you're like "damn, that voice didn't match up with the mental image of the guy that i had in my head"

thanks for putting the quotation marks around "worldwide leader." wishful thinking is a beautiful thing during the holiday season =D

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Well, that's what ESPN has called themselves for a long, long time..."The Worldwide Leader in Sports". As for Stuart Scott, may he walk towards our TV Monday night promoting "SportsCenter" during the 4th quarter and fall down a hole in the field during the Falcons/Saints' game on "Monday Night Football". Get off my damn TV!!!

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"Booyah Boy" hasn't died...Less of that clown on my TV...I'm cool with that!

Definately racist. Where's Chris in Joliet when you really need him.

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What's that supposed to mean? Stuart Scott is beyond annoying!

Doesn't mean a thing SHARK tank.....Happy Holidays to you and yours!

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