The Denver Nuggets finished off the Miami Heat on Monday night to claim their first NBA championship, and with it veteran broadcaster Mike Breen reached the century mark for NBA Finals games called.
Breen, who has been the voice of the NBA Finals on ABC and ESPN since 2006, was recognized by NBA commissioner Adam Silver ahead of the milestone broadcast. A commemorative plaque presented featured photos of Breen with then broadcast partner Hubie Brown for his first Finals call and Breen with Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson this year.
In the closing minutes of Game 5 in Denver Monday, Jackson and Van Gundy offered their quick congratulations to Breen on the air.
Additionally, many of Breen’s ESPN colleagues paid tribute to him ahead of the game.
“I’m so proud of Mike. I’ve known him since 1980, when we would have lunch together at the Fordham Campus Center and talk about our dreams,” said Michael Kay, who hosts The Michael Kay Show on ESPN 98.7 FM in New York. “His was to be the voice of the [New York] Knicks, and he did that while going on to be the voice of the NBA. No one deserves their exalted position more than my best friend. He treats everyone with respect and receives it back, as he should.”
“A toast to excellence at the highest level,” Brown added. “Mike Breen brings leadership, knowledge, and total preparation to every NBA television assignment. I cherish my time by his side every season.”
Reporter Lisa Salters, who was also on the broadcast in Dallas in 2006 when Breen’s run began, also echoed that Breen not only is a top-notch broadcaster but a top-notch friend.
“Mike is an icon — the voice of an entire generation when it comes to NBA broadcasting,” she said. “That’s just a fact. But, he’s also a great leader and friend — it’s a privilege to be on his team.”
Analyst Doris Burke, who has had the opportunity to call games alongside Breen at ESPN, said no one does it better than Mike.
“Mike Breen is the consummate pro and an incredible caretaker of the NBA Finals,” she said. “From the iconic calls, the historic ‘Bang!’ to the closing NBA Finals soliloquy, which puts the series in context, Mike does it all humbly and with incredible passion.”
