Mike Breen re-signs with ESPN as lead NBA announcer
In this June 4, 2015, photo, Mike Breen, NBA play-by-play sports commentator for ABC, greets fans before Game 1 of basketball's NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland, Calif. Breen is calling his 10th NBA Finals, a record for a TV play-by-play announcer. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Credit: AP
ESPN has re-signed lead NBA play-by-play commentator Mike Breen to a long-term deal, the network announced on Wednesday.
Breen, who also does play-by-play for Knicks games on the Madison Square Garden Network, joined ESPN in 2003 and began calling the NBA Finals in 2006. Breen is in his 11th season as ESPN’s lead play-by-play commentator of the NBA Finals, which start Thursday night in Oakland with the Warriors hosting the Cavaliers.
According to ESPN’s news release, Breen’s new deal will have him continue to call the NBA Finals on ABC, the conference finals on ESPN, and a package of NBA regular-season games, including Saturday’s prime-time schedule on ABC, and other playoff games.
“With all due respect to Mr. Gehrig, I think I’m the luckiest man on the face of the Earth,” Breen said in a statement. “To be able to work for ESPN with so many talented people, and broadcast the game I have loved since I was a boy, it really is a dream come true. I feel truly blessed that ESPN has put their trust in me to broadcast the NBA, including the NBA Finals.”
Breen has worked NBA telecasts on ESPN with analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson and reporter Doris Burke for the past seven years.
