Jim Spanarkel brings a wealth of experience to his position as analyst on YES' Brooklyn Nets telecasts. He has worked 23 years as a Nets television analyst, and earned New York Emmy Award nominations in 2010 and 2011 for his Nets analyst work on YES. Spanarkel also provides commentary on CBS Sports' regular season and NCAA Men's college basketball tournament coverage. In addition, Spanarkel and his YES Nets colleague Ian Eagle worked the world feed of the 2013 NBA Finals.
The YES Network, the most-watched regional sports network in the country the past 10 years, is the exclusive television home of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. YES, which has earned 300 Emmy Award nominations and 67 Emmy Awards since its March 2002 launch, also televises original biography, studio and magazine programs, in addition to college sports.
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.
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