The surprise layoffs at ESPN appeared to make the network’s morning show circuit a tad bit awkward.
During Friday’s installment of “Get Up,” Brian Custer, who was filling in for host Mike Greenberg, teased an appearance from Jalen Rose on two separate occasions halfway through the two-hour program.
However, Rose’s segment never aired as The Post’s Andrew Marchand reported that he, along with a number of prominent on-air personalities, was laid off by the media giant.
Just over the halfway point in the show, Custer said Rose would join the conversation to discuss Sixers guard James Harden opting in to his $35.6 million option for the 2023-24 season, after the commercial break — but when the showed returned, it went on without Rose.
Custer, along with NBA analysts Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps and Nick Friedell, as well as NFL analyst Dan Graziano wound up playing NBA trivia instead of diving into a conversation about Harden’s future.
About six minutes later, Custer teased an appearance by Rose once more to discuss Harden and the countdown to NBA free agency, which begins at 6 p.m. ET on Friday.
After Custer cited a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Harden and the Sixers are working to get a deal done, there was an awkward pause while Harden highlights aired.
“Alright, lets bring in now one of our NBA analysts Jalen Rose,” Custer said before he paused again.
“He’s going to join us as well, but guys let’s talk about this Joel Embiid situation.”
Rose, who hosts “The Renaissance Man” podcast for The Post, never appeared on the show.
NBA Twitter took notice.
“What’s crazy [about] the firing of Jalen Rose is while watching [‘Get Up’] this morning he was [supposed] to be on the show, guess they clipped him after,” one user tweeted.
“That’s wild because this morning on Get Up they said they were having audio issues with Jalen Rose,” another wrote.
The former NBA player-turned analyst served as a co-host on “NBA Countdown” alongside Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon.
ESPN had reduced Rose’s role at the network after his daily program with David Jacoby was canceled at the end of 2022.
Rose joined ESPN in 2007, shortly after he called it a career in the NBA.
The Post first reported Friday morning that ESPN was laying off around 20 on-air personalities.
Top NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy was part of the network’s second wave of layoffs, in addition to Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson and Suzy Kobler.
