With ESPN Job at Risk, Doris Burke Is Gaining Major Support From Pacers Community at Game 4

There’s one thing louder than the crowd in Indiana right now… Doris Burke’s mic, and don’t worry, it’s not her usual controversial self at work this time. And if you think the ESPN veteran is quietly riding into the Finals sunset, think again. Because in Game 4, with her job potentially hanging by a thread, Burke delivered a moment that had Pacers Nation nodding in fierce agreement. Obi Toppin took a shot to the head from Lu Dort on a hard drive to the rim. The refs paused. Replays rolled. And then came the commentary. Burke, to say the least, dug in.

“We know it’s a foul. That’s windup, impact, follow through, and contact to the head,” she said. “If the last one was in fact a flagrant, how is this not a flagrant?” RJ chimed in, but Burke’s voice cut cleanest. “In my opinion, you want to get your money’s worth. And that wasn’t your money’s worth on a flagrant.”

And not just that, in a previous play, Burke yapped yet again, “Think about the blocks Turner had to preserve the last game. I don’t know about this. I don’t love that.I gotta be honest with you.” To which, her colleague replied, “And I think the entire crowd agrees with you, Doris. I think the entire crowd does. And they’re very objective. Never biased. Toppin and Shepard will both come in.” But who validated her commentary the most this time? The ever-so or well, not-so-loving crowd. The Pacers faithful were seen chanting “Ref you suck,” in Gainbridge Fieldhouse like their lives depended on it.

Obi Toppin gets fouled during a drive to the rim, and after a while the referees decide to review it. Upon review, Lu Dort’s foul was upgraded to a flagrant penalty-1, as he hit Obi Toppin in the head (with replays) pic.twitter.com/vuaxJIEpwI

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 14, 2025

Was it force? Was it frustration? As Burke later repeated Rick Carlisle’s “level of force” mantra, you couldn’t help but wonder… was she talking about the court, or the commentary booth? Either way, the Pacers community is listening. And backing her. Because for one night at least, Doris Burke wasn’t just calling the game. She was a part of it, without any doubts in hindsight. What’s next? Come back here to find out!

(This is a developing story…)

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