Jim Spanarkel, Brooklyn Nets Analyst
Jim Spanarkel brings a wealth of experience to his position as an analyst on YES' Brooklyn Nets telecasts. He is in his 28th year as a Nets television analyst, and he also handled commentary on Nets radio broadcasts from 1987 to 1994.
Spanarkel earned two New York Emmy Awards in 2014: the Best Sports Analyst award for his Nets work on YES; and for being part of YES' Nets broadcast team which won for Best Live Sports Series. He also earned New York Emmy Award nominations in 2010 and 2011 for his Nets analysis on YES.
In addition to his YES work, Spanarkel provides commentary on CBS Sports' regular season and NCAA Men's college basketball tournament coverage. He and his YES Nets colleague Ian Eagle also worked the world feed of the 2013 NBA Finals.
The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country 12 of the last 14 years, is the exclusive local television home of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, the Brooklyn Nets, and MLS' New York City FC. The network has won 101 New York Emmy Awards since its 2002 launch.
As a standout basketball player at Duke, Spanarkel earned All-American honors in 1979 and Academic All-American honors in 1978 and 1979. He was Duke's team MVP his final three seasons - 1977-79, was team captain as a junior and senior, and was named NCAA East Regional Most Outstanding Player in 1978. He also played two seasons for the Duke baseball team. He graduated from Duke in 1979.
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Spanarkel with the 16th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, and after playing for the 76ers during the 1979-80 campaign, he played the next four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. He led Dallas in scoring during the 1980-81 season.
Spanarkel was born in Jersey City, N.J., and played his high school ball at Hudson Catholic High School, also in Jersey City. He and his wife Janet have four children.
