Mike Breen is as experienced at calling big games as any broadcaster in all of sports, which comes with the territory of being the lead play-by-play voice of the NBA Finals at ESPN since 2006. But despite all of this experience, Breen is admittedly going into Game 7 of this year’s NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers with some nerves.
Sunday’s series-deciding Game 7 matchup marks the first Game 7 in the NBA Finals since the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. And for as great as the action on the court was in that thrilling Game 7 matchup, Breen beautifully matched the intensity of the game down the stretch time and time again.
Whether it be Breen’s infamous “blocked by James” call for LeBron James’ block on Andre Iguodala with just minutes to go in a tight game, or Breen’s call on Kyrie Irving’s game-sealing three point shot over Steph Curry, the veteran play-by-play man made the game feel as special as it played out on the court.
Despite all of the backlog of terrific work from Breen over the years, the legendary broadcaster outlined in a recent conversation with Richard Deitsch of The Athletic that Game 7 matchups always bring him “butterflies” because he wants to do justice to just how important every moment in the tense game is.
“I get butterflies pretty much before every Finals game, but especially at Game 7,” said Breen. “You can’t think about the magnitude. What you have to think about is making sure you get it right for the players. You wanna do them justice if they perform something spectacular. You want to make sure you document that in a way that gives them the respect they deserve for their performance in the ultimate pressure game.”
Breen’s self-reflection on whether he meets the importance of the moment is likely what makes him so great at what he does. But in this instance, it is also probably a bit overcritical.
For years now, Breen has been renowned by fans and fellow broadcasters alike for his work covering the NBA Finals.
And if any more proof was needed of exactly that, legendary broadcaster Dick Stockton had plenty of positive things to say about Breen’s work while discussing Breen with Deitsch.
“Mike Breen is brilliant at what he has done in the NBA longer than anyone,” Stockton said. “Whenever I hear someone in the role I had for over half a century, I can tell in seconds if the announcer is humble and not looking to prove something to the audience. Mike is one of those.”
Regardless of whether Sunday’s game is an entertaining one or not, expect Breen to be at his very best to meet the biggest moment of the NBA season.