ESPN president Jon Skipper has insisted that the North American NBA basketball league remains a “critical product” for the US pay-television broadcaster.
“There are plenty of live sports rights, but the ones that make a difference are scarce,” Skipper said.
ESPN has rights to the NBA through to the end of the 2015-16 season.
The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has been linked with a bid for the rights following its launch of new national pay-television channel Fox Sports 1.