(Ben Solomon/ESPN Images)
The 2015 NBA Finals have started with a “Bang!” (pardon the pun) as the event has seen record ratings through four games. However, that’s not the only record-setting performance making headlines.
This year’s NBA Finals marks the 10th season that Mike Breen has served as the voice of the event, surpassing legendary play-by-play commentators like Marv Albert and Dick Stockton.
Front Row had the chance to catch up with Breen’s fellow NBA Finals commentators, who enthusiastically discussed Breen’s milestone and legacy.
“Mike has an incredible work ethic and he has a passion for the game,” said NBA Finals analyst Mark Jackson, who has called seven Finals alongside Breen. “And, like every great one, he makes everyone around him better.”
Jeff Van Gundy, who has called nine NBA Finals with Breen, added, “Three things I think about when I think of Mike: his love of the game, his preparation and he has a signature call.”
Two common themes – passion and preparation – were evident when discussing Breen with his colleagues.
“The first thing I think about when I think of Mike Breen is how much passion and preparation he puts into every game,” said sideline reporter Doris Burke. “When you start with passion as your base in your job, that really translates. When I watch him on the screen, whether it’s the enthusiasm in his voice, his knowledge of the rules, his storytelling as it relates to the players. Everything that comes out on the air from Mike is about his passion for the NBA.”
ESPN NBA senior coordinating producer Tim Corrigan has worked with Breen – who also calls games for the New York Knicks – on all 10 of his NBA Finals on ABC. If Breen is the voice of this era, then Corrigan is the era’s producer.
“He’s had the opportunity to do a bunch of stuff with us, like a lot of people do. He thought about it for a minute, and then said ‘the NBA’s my life,'” said Corrigan. “He just wanted to do our NBA with us and when he wasn’t doing the NBA with us, he wanted to do it with the Knicks. Because, he wanted to live the NBA and be an expert at the NBA. He came in and said, ‘I want to do this. I want to be great at this and I want to master this.’”
Breen continues to call the 2015 NBA Finals on Sunday, June 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of what is proving to be a must-see series.
