“I’ve been rooting for the Knicks since I’ve been 7 years old and to have a team like this is pretty darn special.” - Legendary Knicks broadcaster Mike Breen on the Knicks heading to the NBA Finals
BAN BREEN FROM THE FINALS! BIASED!!!!
In all seriousness, I wonder how often a local broascaster has gotten to call his teams finals games.
I believe Joe Davis and the Dodgers is one in baseball.
Always amazes me what a pro he is, if it wasn’t for his love of “yuge” you probably wouldn’t know he was a Knicks fan
The only other time I’ve really been able to hear the New Yorker in him was during this classic exchange with JVG
JVG really channeling Larry David here
One of my favorite NBA play calls
“Whaddya talkin’ about?!” Lmaooo
TIL that’s a New York thing lmao. I say that without even thinking about it not realizing it’s a New York thing haha.
It’s the tone of it. Think Jerry Seinfeld lol
This happens to me anytime I saw yall to someone from outside the South.
I dont consider myself to sound southern at all and I think I’m right until I say that lol
Somewhere along my life I picked up saying y’all sometimes. Born raised and living in the north east lol
I miss this commentator trio so much, yes even MJax I think they were at their best when it was them 3 even if JVG went on some random tangents about how modern game is bad, MJax saying random shit, etc I legit think if they were still around they’d still be one of the more entertaining commentator trios out there.
Lmao banger clip
is it the whatddatyaatalkinbout?
You could show this to someone who doesn’t care about basketball (hypothetical) and they’d still laugh their ass off
Amazing
Breen is an extraordinary broadcaster. I can’t tell you how many awful Knicks teams he made watchable by calling an enthusiastic gane
Pretty much from 2015-2021, he and Clyde were the only real reason to watch Knicks games
And most of 2001-2015
That 2012 season was fun as heck though! Melo and the old guys
It was but 2012-13 was the only fun season during that stretch, lol. The couple seasons prior to it had some good moments though.
Triple bang incoming
Jalen Brunson, 3OT game 7 buzzer beater will give us like 8 BANGs at least.
Corner 3 you can hear his accent too
Scully did many World Series as well.
He only did one Dodger World Series as the proper announcer at NBC (1988); the others were when MLB allowed local announcers from both teams to do PvP for the national telecast until the late-70s; by that time when the league standardized PvP to a national/neutral announce team, Scully was fulltime at CBS which didn’t have baseball rights.
Joe Davis, meanwhile, has done two of his four World Series as the proper FOX announcer involving the Dodgers.
Joe Buck has called the Cardinals two or three times I think (06?, 11, and 13)
As a Tiger fan it was brutal to hear Buck and McCarver call that in 06, both Cardinals homer’s and McCarver was bitter about his 68 WS loss to the Tigers.
Man I forgot the Cards lost in 68.
Yeah, but his 1988 call is among the most iconic calls ever
In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!
Including one of the most legendary moments with Gibson’s homer. With the bedlam going on in the stadium and the sheer drama of the moment, I’m sure it helped mask his own personal excitement at what he just saw as he delivered that call.
In a year that had been so improbable, the impossible has happened!
I should have known this instinctively but I never realized this.
The Raptors in Canada kept their national broadcasts throughout the whole playoffs so the local team (Matt Devlin and either Jack Armstrong/Leo Rautins) called every game during the 2019 run.
Oh that’s pretty cool. Does TSN show both the American ABC/ESPN broadcast stream and their own local one?
Pretty sure for Raptors games they only show the local TSN/Sportsnet broadcast
To clarify when showing non-Raptor playoff games TSN/Sportsnet will show the US National TV broadcast for playoff games.
the RSN vs. national broadcast thing is such a fascinating wrinkle for the canadian market
Jack Armstrong and Clyde are my favorite broadcasters in the entire league. Always bring such a joy whenever i listen to them.
Maybe part of it is that even though they are still homers, they still have that love for basketball; they give the opposing team flowers when they are playing well.
I’m just really happy both of them get to see their team go the finals.
joe buck and stl cardinals, although i think he only called world series cardinals games after he became a fulltime national broadcaster
Clyde and Breen love good basketball and are disgusted by poor basketball no matter the source.
I can still hear Clyde saying in response to an infamous Knicks moment in the past “What is he doing? What is he even doing folks? Why?”
Breen and Monica are both treasures. Knick fans are so lucky to have these people. Clyde is a gem and listening to them call games has been a legit joy in my life. These guys calling Knick wins is literal music
New York sports fans have been spoiled across the board when it comes to broadcast teams. The Knicks whole crew is second to none, Eagle with the Nets is spectacular, Sam and Joe were absolute class for decades with the Rangers, the Mets have had the best booth in baseball for years now, and John Sterling was one of the most iconic radio voices of all time.
In the NHL Doc Emrick got to do it for the New Jersey Devils in 1995 calling the games for FOX. He also got to do it again in 2012 though by that time he had stopped calling the Devils games full time to cut back on his travel obligations since he was the lead play by play for NHL on NBC too.
Gary Thorne called the Finals for ESPN during the times the Devils made it in 2000, 2001 and 2003, and he was the former lead play by play for the team in seasons prior to Doc getting the job.
One of my favorite things about being a Knicks fan was having Clyde and Breen as our commentary team. They never really let their bias show
Joe buck called two cardinals World Series wins
well, its easy ehen your team has been shite for most of your professional career
Every time the Devils went to the finals in the NHL their games were either called by their current local guy or a former one. In 95 Doc was their current one. 2012 was Doc’s first year after leaving the local broadcast to cut down on his workload and just do national. 2000, 2001, and 2003 it was Gary Thorne who was a former local Devils guy
Thats actually super interesting. The Devils were really good when I was a kid too. I watched a few of their Stanley Cup matches despite not knowing anything about hockey
Best time to ever be a Knicks fan?
In the past 30 some years I’d say so
I know it was only a few nights but Linsanity was so massive there for a minute
that was regular season. Then we got bounced out by Miami in the first round that year lol
That and then the rumblings between if it was Carmelo’s or Lin’s team.
Linsanity was fun… but not nearly as fun as this
99 was really weird with shortened season and no MJ. 8th seed Knicks were crazy fun. Kinda tragic they couldnt keep that team together
This feels like Linsanity but in the playoffs and the team is actually good
Winsanity
Even though they made the Finals in 99 on that amazing run, they never had much of a chance against the Duncan-Robinson Spurs with Ewing hurt. This is the first time they’re in the Finals with a strong chance to win it since 94, so yeah 30 years sounds reasonable.
I will say I think the best Knicks team I’ve seen before this run was the 1997 Knicks who finally put some better talent around Ewing (Houston and LJ) and like this team were peaking at just the right time in the playoffs. They swept a very good 54 win Hornets team in the first round and went up 3-1 against the 61 win Heat, but blew Game 5 and then had a bench clearing brawl after PJ Brown literally body slammed Charlie Ward fighting for a rebound. The Knicks had so many players suspended they had to split them across Games 6 and 7 and that lost the Knicks the series. I guess it wouldn’t have mattered too much since the 69-win Bulls were up next, but I still think that Knicks team would have given the Bulls their toughest fight in those playoffs.
But yeah I’ve been watching since 94 and this is easily the best run I’ve ever seen a Knicks team on. They’re peaking at just the right time, they’re 100% healthy, they’re going to get a lot of rest and play a team coming out of a war zone. All the stars are aligning.
Yep 👍
I always thought the 97 team was the best team Ewing ever played on
They would have taken the Bulls to 7 like they did in 92
If the Knicks ever had a chance to beat the Bulls it would have been that ‘97 team at full strength. I’m pretty sure JVG thinks that they would have.
1993 and 1997 were their best teams that decade…PJ Brown and the league sabotaged it
Agreed
It’s interesting to think that neither of their 2 best teams even made the finals.
They totally blew that game 5 in 93. Missed FTs and Charles Smith.
And PJ Brown is still among my most hated athletes of all time
Agreed on all counts…I understand Game 1 last year in the ECF, but I think that Game 5 was the most devastating loss in franchise history…still hurts to this day (obviously, along with games 6 and 7 against the Rockets)
but today (the rest of the week really) is a moment to celebrate before we all try to figure out how to counteract rust on 6⁄3 lol…job’s not done, but it has been an exciting, historic run to this point…team is locked in and playing at an incredible level
Yup, the 99 run was a miracle. The team was also banged up by the finals and Ewing was out (he was old by that point, but still a contributor, especially with the big 2 Spurs had).
Ewing was suspended for standing up and looking just because his foot was touching the court.
This was the height of David Stern’s megalomania.
And I’ll always wonder if Riley put PJ Brown up to starting the fight because he knew Miami wasn’t as good as the Knicks that year.
not the fire/boo chants at the Nene draft night?
[deleted]
That was like a single week lol
This is a legit title run, they haven’t lost a GAME, let alone them being playoff games, in over a month
man wtf 😭😭youre really asking if a finals appears with one of the best players in the league is better than a role player having a good week?
If we’re being real the NBA had a much bigger presence in American culture back then compared to now.
True enough. TikTok has destroyed everyone’s brains these days.
Late 2000s through the entire 2010s was the NBA’s 2nd peak after the 90s, IMO. Kobe going back to back and LeBron forming the Big 3 in response, followed by LeBron underperforming in the Finals all felt like seismic events in NBA history. Then of course Curry arrived to change NBA offense forever. I don’t think any player has seized the cultural zeitgeist like these 3 players since
okay
Yes this is better than Linsanity. Don’t get me wrong it was a great 2 1⁄2 weeks of basketball where Lin did some amazing shit. However, that team flamed out in the first round of the playoffs (with no Lin) that year. We made the finals this year and have a legit shot.
I think Linsanity also was the first real knick experience for many young knick fans who were too young to experience the 90s knicks. It came during our only bright spot during a 2 decade dark age, and like I said it was an awesome run. But for all its amazing experience it doesn’t come close to Knicks being back in the finals or this team right now.
I’m sorry is that a serious question?
SO MUCH FUCKING BETTER
70s are definitely Number 1, they were bordering on a dynasty:
1969 - Lost Game 6 of the Eastern Division Finals (present day Conference Finals) to the Celtics by 1 point in Boston
1970 - Champions
1971 - ECF Game 7 loss by 2 points on the road
1972 - Went to the Finals and lost despite Willis Reed effectively missing the entire season
1973 - Champions; defeated the 68 win Celtics in the ECF (tied for greatest record ever at the time), first team to ever beat the Celtics in a Game 7 and did it in Boston Garden
1974 - One more ECF run, lost to the Celtics in 5 though because the team had finally aged out
Then in some order it’s the 50s (3 straight Finals appearances but lost them all, twice in Game 7), 90s (Finals in 94 and 99 but a lot of heartbreakers, mainly to Jordan) and now. Hard to rank it before seeing how it ends because both of those eras had Game 7 Finals losses.
It is the most hopeful the team has been since 94 when Jordan was retired.
Those teams also had some all-time moments. Willis Reed coming back in game 7 after tearing a quad in game 5 to put the clamps on Wilt in ‘70 is one of the coldest moments in NBA history.
Walt Frazier dropping 36/7/19 on 12⁄17 in that same game to beat the Wilt, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor Lakers superteam is also legendary. Easily one of the most underappreciated teams ever.
That 72 is a great what if. They made the Finals, but lost to the Lakers 4-1 because they missed Willis. Next year, they’re back in the Finals and beat the Lakers 4-1.
The 1970 Knicks also started the season 23-1, including an 18 game win streak, and “only” finished with 60 wins due finishing 3-7 in their last 10, including losing the last 4. (Not sure what happened there, but it might have been related to having the 1 seed mostly locked up, since they finished with a pretty comfortable 4 game lead over the 2 seed 56 win Bucks.) That had them with easily the best record in the NBA (only 2 other teams finished with 50+ wins, the Bucks and the 50 win Baltimore Bullets).
They also had the MVP in Willis Reed, and won Game 7 of the Finals despite their MVP barely being able to move due to playing with a calf tear.
Reed already had been named MVP of the 1970 All-Star Game and for the 1969-70 regular season. But his and the Knicks’ shot at a title was seriously in doubt when he suffered a torn thigh muscle in Game 5 and sat out Game 6 (Wilt Chamberlain had 45 points and 27 rebounds for the Lakers to tie the series at 3-3). “I didn’t want to have to look at myself in the mirror 20 years later and say I wished I had tried to play,” Reed later recalled thinking, so he received painkiller injections in his thigh and limped to the court during warmups. The crowd already at Madison Square Garden erupted and the Lakers stopped warming up to stare at Reed. “When I saw that,” Knicks guard Walt Frazier said, “something told me we might have these guys.” Reed finished with only four points and three rebounds but gave New York a noble half. He pestered Chamberlain into multiple missed shots while he was in the game, then flipped the keys to Frazier, whose 36 points and 19 assists wound up as one of the greatest and most overshadowed Finals stat lines ever. https://www.nba.com/news/history-finals-moments-hobbled-willis-reed-inspires-knicks-victory-in-game-7
Reed already had been named MVP of the 1970 All-Star Game and for the 1969-70 regular season. But his and the Knicks’ shot at a title was seriously in doubt when he suffered a torn thigh muscle in Game 5 and sat out Game 6 (Wilt Chamberlain had 45 points and 27 rebounds for the Lakers to tie the series at 3-3). “I didn’t want to have to look at myself in the mirror 20 years later and say I wished I had tried to play,” Reed later recalled thinking, so he received painkiller injections in his thigh and limped to the court during warmups. The crowd already at Madison Square Garden erupted and the Lakers stopped warming up to stare at Reed. “When I saw that,” Knicks guard Walt Frazier said, “something told me we might have these guys.” Reed finished with only four points and three rebounds but gave New York a noble half. He pestered Chamberlain into multiple missed shots while he was in the game, then flipped the keys to Frazier, whose 36 points and 19 assists wound up as one of the greatest and most overshadowed Finals stat lines ever.
https://www.nba.com/news/history-finals-moments-hobbled-willis-reed-inspires-knicks-victory-in-game-7
From the moment Leon Rose was hired and started making movies, it been a good time to be one. Its just reaching new heights now with our finals appearance.
Since 73
I feel like the early 70s were pretty good, but this is really really nice
Right there with Linsanity run.
The city is so turned up man. Gonna enjoy every moment cause this might not happen again
99 was special. 8th seed reaching the finals… that was an awesome run. This run is special as well. Complete the job and this will be the best time for New York sports.
Ever? They won two titles in the 70s.
Wait till they lose. Then it will be the best time for everyone else
They need to have Clyde on the call even just for a minute. Him and Breen deserve that moment
They’ll probably have him on pregame at some point
Was great that we beat Atlanta so thoroughly in Game 6 they just brought him a mic in the stands
Living legend.
Do it for Breen boys
Do it for Clyde
Breen the fucking goat. Stand up dude too from what I hear – really nice man.
This man had to commentate a washed Melo share the floor with Ron Baker and Mindaugus Kuzminskas while Phil Jackson was forcing the entire team to run the triangle among an infinite number of other examples of terrible Knicks basketball. Incredibly grateful he’s able to share this moment with Knicks fans everywhere.
Bring on the finals.
What I like most about this Knicks team is that they weren’t built through the “one of the 3 destination cities in the NBA gets superstar free agents to form a big 2⁄3 there and of course win it all” like the Heatles or 2020 Lakers or what the KD/Kyrie/Harden Nets attempted to do. They got a not very sought after free agent in Jalen Brunson who blossomed into a superstar there. They got another not very sought after free agent in Julius Randle who blossomed there which they turned into a trade for KAT. Traded for or signed good role players like Bridges or OG or Hart. It’s not the most traditional path to building a contender (their best drafted player is Mitch Robinson) but it’s also not one of “fuck you we’re LA/NYC and we signed free agents you guys wish you could have.”
I had genuinely memory holed Phil Jackson’s Knicks period until I read your comment.
Worst part is, that was viewed as “the better times” compared to the Isiah Thomas reign.
Bro. Scott Layden.
The one silver lining from it is that he made Dolan agree not to meddle during his tenure and it seems to have made Dolan realize “Why was I ever wasting time micromanaging the Knicks when I’m one Blues banger away from musical stardom?? I gotta stay locked in!!”
That was that time when Steve Mills was in charge and never even made the playoffs. Takes off one year and the team does make it. Then he comes back the year following and its back to the dungeon lol.
Mindaugus Kuzminskas
You can’t just make up names and expect us to believe you, man. Call him, I don’t know, Jim Smithson or something.
If the Knicks manage to win it all FUCK the ownership, ima need Mike Breen to hoist that Larry OB first
Not first, but if I was Breen I’d just walk onto the court and be right there. Fuck are security, the Knicks or the NBA going to do about it on live TV? Arrest me?
Arrest me?
James Dolan is that petty, yes.
Why would Dolan do anything? Mike Breen works for MSG Studios. He travels with the team during the regular season.
He better be careful, Masai knows that can result in a years long legal battle even if you should be there
Genuinely one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen (the guard denying him access, I mean)
If it’s 2019 and Mike Breen was black, they’d definitely try.
Dolan can still go fuck himself
Still don’t understand how that’s a thing. Hockey gives it to the team captain. Feels like that should be the norm.
Clowns complaining about bias with him calling Knick games like we didn’t have to sit through Reggie nonstop last year and this year
NGL I haven’t seen one person complaining about Breen calling the finals
You have to be in the deepest part of hell on social media or just making shit up if you think people dislike breen like that
it was on this sub lol
There were absolutely people on this sub saying it. Thankfully they were all downvoted to shit
As a warriors fan, I will always have respect for him especially after the double bang in 2016 for Steph lol that was a special moment for me. I am a fan of Mike brown and Mike breen obviously. Congrats to the knicks on making the finals
Knicks fans… I just want to show you a guy who believed in you more than you believed in yourselves. Congrats on making the finals
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/mPDKSg00Ya
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/kt3Qtm5Sow
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/qe1bPbsMzq
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/3x6f9or1Ur
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/EbbADc5UdR
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/3ke8QftDw3
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/Haf1vTcHdg
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/BtxTn1kekd
My guy. You believed in the Knicks when even us fans were uncertain. Much respect
That Knicks fan in the second section is a clown haha. Glad you have receipts
You predicted Cavs Knicks ECF, _Juntaodamus
Respect!
Is this Donovan Mitchell’s burner?
Tatums
bro came with receipts and soul read the whole playoffs.
He said Knicks-Cavs would be hard fought
he also said they wouldnt make it past 5
It kind of was for part of game 1
Legend.
Well damn!
You are prophetic!!!!
Show us your winning betting slip to go with all those I told ya so’s
I just know Breens cast is going to get emotional when the Knicks win it all
We’re gonna get a triple bang, I can feel it
gonna be hard to triple bang when we win the closeout game by 30+ again
When will they be doing that?
After either the Spurs or Thunder kill each other in 7 games
Spurs seemed to have made the first moves on that front. Let’s see how the Thunder will respond.
That’s not very Aspirational of you.
Don’t shit on our Aspirations
Somewhere around June this year
Mike speaks with so much kindness, love, and humility. I’ve been watching Knicks games for 15 years now, and to have his voice be in my life for what, 6-8 hours a week for 8 months out of the year, it’s been such a joy. It seems like a small thing but I learned so much from him about being kind as a little kid watching the Knicks and seeing how he carried himself.
We’re so lucky to have him. He deserves this so much. I LOVE YOU MIKE LETS GO KNICKS
He talks like the ideal version of Ted Dawson.
Breen and Clyde not getting to call these games feels CRIMINAL
Sucks. I’d love to get half a quarter or a full quarter of them together.
Congrats to all Knicks fans 👏
Spike and Anne must be on cloud nine with their Knicks and their Gunners rn
They might inspire them to do more movies lol
I used to pray for times like this
Breen is THE best. Can’t believe him and Clyde are our guys sometimes. Been such a pleasure having him call these last few games, especially because we missed those 2 in the first round this year.
And honestly, anyone who watches knows that Clyde comparing Brunson to Willis is the HIGHEST compliment he can give. If we pull out a Ring while Clyde is still around, its going to be special
BANNNGGG BANNNGGG …….. BANNNGGG??????
He did say he’d have a triple Bang ready for us if we win it all
mann only true new yorkers know how well deserving this is…. now time to finish the job
If it’s Knicks thunder the entire country gonna be rooting for the Knicks
If the Knicks win give this man a ring too
Love ya Mike.
Mike Breen is just as much a part of any of this as any of the Knicks over the years - I am dead fucking ass. Just listening to him and Clyde talk for 90 minutes as the Knicks got their asses beatdown, it created an entire relationship with my dad. They are both so entertaining to listen to and Mike Breen gets the right stuff out of Clyde - another broadcaster wouldn’t be able to do that like Breen does it.
People sat and watched the shittiest basketball to listen to Walt Frazier and Mike Breen speak for 90 minutes - there were some games where I would walk into the room and ask if Clyde was announcing, and legit wouldn’t watch some games because he wasn’t there to listen to. The Knicks aren’t just basketball, it’s entertainment and the broadcasters are what give these guys life in so many ways, that man is just as important as anyone on the Knicks if you’ve been a diehard.
Oh 💯!!!
Me and my family definitely did.
In our household me and my bf always seek out the streams where Clyde and Mike are the broadcasters.
I was too young in the 90s to stay up and watch the full games, so I would go to my room and turn on the radio to listen to Breen and Clyde call the games on WFAN. I had a bit of a flashback to that last night when my son watched the first quarter, went to bed, and then came back down when the game was over to give me a high five. Turns out he’s been listening to the radio calls of the games too!
I’m happy for the Knicks bro. This is good for basketball. I just need the spurs to beat OKC pls!
Crazy that he’s been affiliated with the Knicks for probably longer than almost anyone, including players/executives/etc.
My girlfriends dad knew Mike Breen growing up in Yonkers. He told me that even when they were kids Breen had a little radio set up in the basement. He always wanted to do what he’s doing now.
My buddy is a huge knicks fan. I haven’t even messaged him to talk about them. Don’t want to jinx them. I hope they win it all. Brunson is my guy.
If you say anything bad about Mike Breen I’ll fight you. GOAT at what he does, amazing person, and Knicks super-royalty
Mike needs to do the first triple bang if the Knicks get a special moment in the Finals.
Bring Clyde in for the finals ESPN! He’s an amazing commentator as well.
One of my wishes when I was 5 years into being an NBA fan was to see the Knicks being successful as they sucked during the 2000s and 2010s. Now that it’s gonna come into fruition it seems so good, but makes me realize “Fuck I’m old”. And how insufferable Knicks fans are gonna be but hey if you win it then go talk your shit.
Knicks have themselves a pretty darn special broadcast and radio team too
Man… if Clyde could get on the call with him, even if for a moment.
Breen has said the only way he’ll ever triple Bang! is if the Knicks hit a game winner in a finals game.
Classy Mike Breen
The Knicks play better and better and it’s a good chance for them in the Finals.
Thanks, Magic
Our own Ian Eagle will have his time too.
Glad to see this for Breen.
Eagle is a Knicks fan
Always love listening to Breen. Congrats Knicks fans!
Breen is NBA royalty
Breenathand
class act, one of the best and most unbiased commentators in sports. You get the feeling he’s just genuinely a great, humble, kind man. CLE fans should be ashamed for trashing this guy.
He’s bring out the rare Quad Bang!!!! if OG will win it at the buzzer.
Met Breen on the LIRR one time. Told him to rest his voice lol. Classy guy.
Ah, so he’ll not be commentating any games then…
Monica’s reaction to his response is the best. He must be a great guy
We are truly blessed with Breen and Clyde 💙🧡
Most likable Knicks fan
Fantastic take.
NY media never seems to see why this sucks for everyone else
Says a Boston fan ?
They will get swept in the Finals. The East this Year was so fucking pathetic, its funny.