The fragility of a television career seems to periodically weigh on her. ESPN has yet to open serious discussions about renewing her contract after it expires this fall. Although this is not unusual for a broadcaster, Ms. Burke said that having a new job since her last contract, along with recent changes at the network, including the resignation of its president, John Skipper, had heightened her anxiety. (ESPN has a strong reputation for promoting female broadcasters, and executives have said they are extremely pleased with her performance.)

While awaiting the start of the game in Philadelphia, she glanced down at her phone and saw that Mr. Durant had decided to restructure his deal with the Golden State Warriors.

“Contract year,” Mr. Dean, her producer, said.

“I know all about that,” Ms. Burke quipped.

She said she hoped to retire from broadcasting by age 60 so she can spend time with future grandchildren, maybe even coach high school basketball. But she wondered whether women older than that would be allowed to continue on television if they chose to.

“The older I’ve gotten, the more I have paid attention to disparities, or what I consider to be different treatment,” Ms. Burke said.

Then she considered her own situation, and how she might be treated differently from Mr. Van Gundy or Mr. Jackson, the two top N.B.A. analysts for ABC and ESPN.

“The reason I’m fiendishly drawing end-of-game plays when I’m taking notes is what if I screwed up something down the stretch of a game?” Ms. Burke said. “How might that be interpreted relative to if Jeff or Mark, who both coached the game, did the same thing?”

Her voice wavered slightly.

“I do worry about that.”