Albert Gets Top NBC Spot Next Season on NBA Games

NBC announced Tuesday that Marv Albert will replace Bob Costas as the lead voice on its NBA telecasts, beginning next season.

Costas will remain as the lead announcer through this season, working with commentator Doug Collins.

On Christmas, however, Albert will be paired with Collins on a Laker-San Antonio game, the second of a doubleheader, because Costas has the day off.

Albert has slowly rebuilt his career since he pleaded guilty in a sexual-assault case and was fired by NBC in September of 1997. He was first hired as a news anchor by Madison Square Garden Network, then by Turner Sports and, six months ago, by NBC as one of its second-tier NBA announcers.

The move was made now by NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol because of Costas’ schedule.

Costas will serve as host of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, and on Tuesday HBO announced that he will be the host of a new weekly magazine show, beginning in February of 2001.

The HBO show will run 12 consecutive weeks during the heart of the NBA season.

“Marv will be doing what he wants to do and I’ll be doing what I want to do,” Costas told The Times. “I told Dick from the beginning that if Marv were to be in a position to return to the No. 1 job, I’d willingly give it back.”

Costas said his new HBO show will supplement “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.”

“An analogy I use to describe the difference in the two shows--it’s a loose one but it works--is that “Real Sports’ is ’60 Minutes’ and my show is ‘Nightline.’ ”

Said Albert, “I’m fortunate, the way things have worked out. I’m thrilled. I’m happy to be part of the mix.”