REPORT HAS COSTAS-ISIAH TEAM LEADING NBC'S HOOP COVERAGE

          Bob Costas will replace Marv Albert on NBC's new No. 1
     NBA announcing team with Isiah Thomas, according to Rudy
     Martzke of USA TODAY.  Martzke reports that Thomas "is
     completing negotiations with NBC for a contract in the
     $600,000 range."  Martzke writes that Hannah Storm will take
     over Costas' role as studio host (USA TODAY, 11/25).  But in
     N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes that either Greg Gumbel or Tom
     Hammond "will succeed" Albert (N.Y. TIMES, 11/25).  In
     Toronto, Doug Smith adds that Thomas "will earn less" than
     $1M in his NBC deal, and that details "still need" to be
     finalized concerning his role at CNBC (TORONTO STAR, 11/25).