It seems ESPN has some explaining to do.
Following the nostalgic return of vintage trademarks and an enhanced broadcast for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, the network faced considerable backlash the next morning after a keen-eyed viewer spotted something unusual.
ESPN used an AI-generated image of Tony Parker, the former Spurs point guard and four-time champion, where he was seen smiling and gesturing.
The image depicted Parker in a Racing Spurs jacket with the Western Conference logo on one sleeve and what looked like an American flag on the other. Confetti was falling around him, and he was wearing a sideways black and gray hat.
During a commercial break in the second half, many fans took to X to voice their concerns about the footage aired by ESPN.
One ABC News journalist, John Healy, questioned, “Couldn’t ESPN find a real shot of Tony Parker for the ad break? They had to resort to AI?” Meanwhile, WFLA sports anchor Jeff Dubroff expressed disgust, posting, “AI sucks. This is not Tony Parker. Do more. It’s appalling.”
Parker, a six-time All-Star and the 2007 Finals MVP, had a notable partnership with Tim Duncan, another Spurs legend.
The guard dedicated 17 seasons to the Spurs before spending his final year with the Hornets in 2018-19, consistently scoring at least 15 points per game in 11 of those seasons. Notably, he averaged more than 50 percent from the field in the 2008-09 season, with a career-high of 22 points per game.
In what was Parker’s first NBA Finals game after joining the team, the Spurs fell behind by 14 points in the second half, ultimately losing to the Knicks 105-95.
Victor Wembanyama, the standout rookie, had a tough night, hitting only 6 of 21 field goals, though he still managed to score 26 points and collect 12 rebounds.
San Antonio aims to tie the series with Game 2 scheduled for Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
