NBA, college football announcer Mark Jones is leaving ESPN after 36 years: 'Time to move on'

Mark Jones has been an on-air staple connected ESPN since the archetypal Bush medication — arsenic successful George H.W. Bush, who served from 1989 to 1992.

So, yeah, it’s been a agelong time.

And now, Jones says, “it’s clip to determination on.”

Jones’ last ESPN broadcast volition beryllium Sunday, erstwhile helium volition service arsenic the play-by-play announcer for the Orlando Magic astatine Boston Celtics crippled connected the last time of the NBA’s regular season. It could precise good beryllium the past clip the operation “hotter than food grease” is uttered connected the network.

“It’s been a memorable travel these decades with the ABC/ESPN family, but I person decided that it’s clip to determination on,” Jones wrote successful a connection posted Friday connected Instagram. “From the time Dennis Swanson hired maine successful 1990 and moving with the champion shaper successful the business, Kim Belton, until contiguous I volition everlastingly beryllium grateful for the galore friends and colleagues on the way.”

Jones, 64, started astatine ESPN successful 1990. As a play-by-play announcer, helium is champion known for calling NBA games but helium has besides covered assemblage football, men’s and women’s assemblage basketball, the WNBA and UFL. On June 2, 2022, Jones, Mark Jackson and Lisa Salters were the archetypal all-Black unit to telephone an NBA Finals crippled connected TV.

In addition, Jones has hosted the “NBA Today” workplace amusement and been an anchor and newsman connected “SportsCenter.”

“Mark has made an enduring interaction astatine ESPN since 1990, serving arsenic a signature dependable chiefly wrong our NBA and assemblage shot sum and crossed astir each of our platforms,” ESPN said successful a statement. “We’re grateful for Mark’s countless contributions and we privation him continued success.”

Separate from his enactment astatine ESPN, Jones has besides been the superior TV play-by-play announcer for the Sacramento Kings since 2020.

Jones hasn’t indicated what he’ll beryllium doing next, but helium ended his announcement with a large prediction for the aboriginal — and threw successful his signature operation for bully measure.

“As I determination connected to my adjacent section I judge my champion enactment is yet to come,” helium wrote. “I’ll beryllium retired determination cookin’ hotter than food grease!”