Mark Jones leaving ESPN after 36 years. Here’s his plan for Sacramento Kings job
Veteran sportscaster Mark Jones is leaving ESPN after 36 years, but he isn’t leaving Sacramento.
Jones told The Sacramento Bee he will return next season as the primary television play-by-play voice of the Kings on NBC Sports California, a job he has held since 2020 while continuing to work an exhaustive schedule for ESPN.
“My plan is to be here for a long, long time,” Jones said prior to Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. “I love it here and I’ve been warmly received by the Kings.”
Jones, 64, started his broadcasting career at The Sports Network in Canada before ESPN hired him to host “NBA Today.” He has served as a play-by-play announcer for NBA, WNBA and college football, utilizing an extensive vocabulary and his unmistakable style to describe the action for fans from coast to coast.
Jones will call his final game for ESPN on Sunday when the Orlando Magic visits the Boston Celtics.
The Kings hired Jones to replace Grant Napear as their primary play-by-play announcer in November 2020. He initially worked alongside Kings coach Doug Christie, who served as the team’s TV color analyst before joining the coaching staff. Jones now partners with Kayte Christensen, the team’s current color commentator.
The Kings broadcast team also features Kyle Draper, who serves as a studio host and substitute play-by-play announcer when Jones is away on assignment for ESPN. Jones said he couldn’t comment when asked if he will call Kings games on a full-time basis next season.
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 6:29 PM.
