Last year, Mike Breen got the opportunity to call the Eastern Conference Finals, which was kind of surprising since the series aired on TNT.
Breen, who’s well-known as the play-by-play announcer for the Knicks on MSG Network, is also a significant voice for ESPN’s NBA broadcasts.
Despite being recognized as a leading announcer globally, Breen had a chance to step in when Kevin Harlan from TNT suggested he call the Knicks’ matchup against the Pacers.
He shared the story during a recent talk with The Post’s Dexter Henry on the “New York Got Game” podcast. Breen recounted, “We had the West, and TNT had the East. I was supposed to cover the series between the Thunder and Timberwolves. Then Kevin Harlan, my good friend, noted they were handling the Knicks vs. the Pacers.”
Remembering the moment, Breen said, “A few days before the series, Kevin called me and asked if I knew. I’ve waited nearly three decades for the Knicks to reach the conference finals—it’s been 25 years. He wanted me to cover it for TNT, saying he’d propose it to his boss, while I would head to the West for ESPN.”
When Henry pressed him, Breen confirmed that Harlan was definitely serious about this offer.
‘I know your bosses want you. You deserve this,’ Breen recalled Harlan telling him. “This is the team you’ve chased your whole life. You’ve earned it.’ Harlan was willing to let other ESPN announcers, like Dave Pash or Mark Jones, take over if needed, which really impressed Breen.
After giving it some thought overnight, Breen reached out to Harlan again. They ultimately concluded it might not be the best decision for their respective networks, ESPN and TNT.
