Frank Isola has responded after ESPN's Michael Wilbon named him his preferred successor to co-host "Pardon the Interruption" alongside him once Tony Kornheiser eventually retires. The programme has been the highest-rated show on American sports television for nearly 25 years, built around its unchanging simple format and long-standing pairing of Wilbon and Kornheiser, so any hint of a future change to its line-up carries significance for the show's future direction.

Any transition remains some way off, as sources have told OutKick that Kornheiser and Wilbon both signed new three-year contracts earlier this year and are expected to see them through, meaning the current duo is set to continue for the foreseeable future. Isola, a veteran basketball journalist and regular "PTI" contributor, was named by Wilbon as the person he would like to see take over the co-host chair whenever Kornheiser does step away.