Mike Breen has been the soundtrack to some of the biggest moments in NBA history as the voice of the Finals for ESPN and ABC over the past two decades.
But during perhaps the signature play of Game 6 on Thursday night as the Indiana Pacers were running away with a home win in the second quarter, Breen suddenly found himself on the receiving end of the ire of NBA fans online.
Up double-digits already with the crowd going crazy, Tyrese Haliburton stole the ball near halfcourt. The star point guard darted toward the basket before unfurling a no-look pass to a streaking Pascal Siakam for a poster dunk on the Oklahoma City defense.
“Cross-court, Si-AKAM for the slam!” Breen belted, before laying out so the audience could hear the ecstatic Pacers crowd.
Multiple posts on X hammered Breen for the call.
“I REALLY REALLY don’t wanna say this cause he’s one of the greatest of all time, but Mike Breen has lost his magic as an announcer,” read a post with nearly 2 million views. “We have seen multiple instances this series where he miscalls legendary plays and moments.”
I REALLY REALLY don’t wanna say this cause he’s one of the greatest of all time, but Mike Breen has lost his magic as an announcer.
We have seen multiple instances this series where he miscalls legendary plays and moments. It may be time to go, but we are forever thankful Mike. pic.twitter.com/m2igpooHM3
— Jake (@playoffjake) June 20, 2025
Several others agreed that the supposedly botched call signaled Breen was past his prime as an announcer.
“hate to be this person but kevin harlan woulda had us really turnt at the end of the half here lol,” another user wrote. “breen just don’t got it like that no more”
“i’m damn near ready to call Mike Breen a** at this point,” another joked.
One user even turned their opinion of Breen’s call into an elaborate joke comparing Breen to clean dishes (they’re both washed, get it?)
i’m damn near ready to call Mike Breen ass at this point https://t.co/wTGRbsIlb2
— 🤺 (@philfanacc) June 20, 2025
A few things could be causing this surprising backlash to Breen, whom many fans and fellow announcers believe to be among the very best ever to call the NBA.
The first is that, after two tense series between Indiana and the New York Knicks in 2024 and 2025, Pacers fans have successfully poisoned the well against Breen, who calls Knicks games locally for MSG Networks. They may simply be knocking Breen because of his Knicks roots, or they may truly believe that he is rooting for Oklahoma City in this series. That would, at least, explain the idea that he was not excited enough for the Siakam dunk.
The other possibility comes from earlier in the series. Breen certainly rose to the occasion of Haliburton’s Game 1-winning jumper, but held back his signature “BANG” call. The Hall of Famer later explained he typically reserves “BANG”s for three-pointers, but gave Haliburton a quick one early in Game 2 because he said he “owed” it to the young star.
There could be some residual disappointment among hoops junkies that Breen tarnished that Haliburton game-winner without the “BANG,” and they are holding that against him on this Siakam dunk call.
However, Breen’s call of the dunk is hard to poke a hole in by itself. Despite the bang-bang nature of the play, Breen has his head on a swivel and interrupted himself to narrate the fast break. His voice calls out above the rapturous crowd to punctuate Siakam’s slam. And with the fans losing their minds, Breen lays out to let them do the talking.
At the same time, the dunk happened in the second quarter with the lead already out of hand. This wasn’t the fourth quarter of a tight contest. If the Thunder came back to win, it would hardly be a signature play. Great announcers know they have to hold back the biggest calls for the actual biggest moments.
Breen humbled himself after his call of Haliburton’s game-winner last week. Don’t expect the same here.