Mike Breen has been the cherished voice of the NBA Finals for nearly two decades, earning a spot among the greatest basketball play-by-play commentators in history. Despite this, Breen humbly attributes the title of the best to Marv Albert, who was the iconic voice of the NBA on NBC during the Michael Jordan era before transitioning to TNT. Albert retired in 2021 after covering only the conference finals, paving the way for Breen to take over the NBA Finals when he succeeded Al Michaels in 2007.
Following in Albert’s footsteps, Breen also became the voice of the New York Knicks. During the Knicks’ playoff series against the Pistons, Breen was spotted in the Madison Square Garden crowd. When featured on the ESPN broadcast, he referred to Marv Albert as “the greatest basketball play-by-play voice in history.”
“The great Marv Albert. The greatest basketball play-by-play voice in history.” – Mike Breen 🏀🎙️ #NBA pic.twitter.com/7IQVFxHdjz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 20, 2025
Adding to the light-hearted atmosphere, Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke shared their contrasting views. Jefferson humorously supported Breen’s admiration for Albert, while Burke asserted that Breen himself is the best. Their banter showcased Jefferson’s comedic timing, highlighting his potential to become a valuable asset as a new member of the ESPN NBA Finals team, reminiscent of the humorous dynamic Breen had with Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy over the years.
Ultimately, the debate over who deserves the title of the best is as subjective as the ongoing LeBron vs. Michael Jordan argument. Your opinion about the greatest may depend on which era of basketball you hold dear in your memories.
