The 2026 NBA Draft got off to a dramatic start as AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, and Keaton Wagler were selected as the top five picks.
However, ESPN’s on-site reporter, Lisa Salters, garnered attention for all the wrong reasons as she made a few blunders during the opening minutes of the NBA Draft.
NBA World Criticizes ESPN’s Lisa Salters for Broadcast Blunders
Fans noticed some of the blunders made by Salters as the opening picks of the 2026 NBA Draft were made. The ESPN reporter conducted the live interviews with the newly drafted rookies and their families right after they were picked in the NBA Draft.
Some of the questions she asked while interviewing the best talents in college basketball after they were picked came across as awkward and left many fans cringing. One fan was critical of the ESPN reporter’s interviewing style.
“Lisa Salters is a painful interviewer to watch on TV,” one fan wrote on X.
Lisa Salters is a painful interviewer to watch on TV
— sal tarantino (@TarantinoSal1) June 24, 2026
Another basketball fan called out Salters amid her struggle on the big NBA Draft stage.
“Lisa Salters is absolutely struggling tonight of the NBA Draft Coverage jeez,” they wrote.
Lisa Salters is absolutely struggling tonight of the NBA Draft Coverage jeez
— DFA Ryan McMahon (@YPCstruggle2718) June 24, 2026
A third fan claimed that Salters was messing up every interview.
“Lisa Salters can’t speak. She’s [expletive] every draft interview,” they wrote. One of her notable errors included calling Cameron Boozer by his brother’s name. A Suns fan pointed out how error-prone her reporting was at the start of the NBA Draft.
“Poor Lisa Salters is so bad at her job bruh she’s messed up like 10 times in the first 3 picks,” they wrote.
poor lisa salters is so bad at her job bruh she’s messed up like 10 times in the first 3 picks 😭
— aidan (@clockworksuns) June 24, 2026
Another NBA fan pointed out that Salters was struggling early in one of the league’s biggest nights. Many other fans on social media also called out some of the questions she was asking the players. “Lisa Salters really struggling over here,” they wrote.
Lisa Salters really struggling over here
— TrashPanda (@TrashPanda0523) June 24, 2026
MORE: WATCH: NBA Legend Carlos Boozer Gets Emotional As Son, Cameron Boozer, Takes the Stage At 2026 Draft
Salters has been a key part of ESPN’s sports coverage over the years. The 60-year-old has been working with the network since 2000 and has covered a host of sporting events and news stories. Regarded as one of the most prominent journalists in the United States, she is also set to be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame later this year.
