'A bucket list thing': Mike Breen on calling Knicks in the NBA Finals

Mike Breen, the Knicks’ play-by-play voice on MSG Networks since 1998, will call the team’s NBA Finals debut on ABC after a 27-year drought, calling it a 'bucket list thing.' The Knicks will face the Spurs in the championship series beginning June 3, 2026, with Breen teaming up with analysts Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler for the broadcast. Breen, who grew up in Yonkers, New York, has never announced the Knicks in the Finals before, despite covering the team for over two decades. His first Finals experience came in 1994 as a radio announcer for WFAN when the Knicks lost to the Rockets, while Marv Albert handled the 1999 Finals call. This year’s series is a rematch of that 1999 Finals, where the Spurs won their first of five NBA titles under coach Gregg Popovich. The Knicks’ resurgence over the past two years has energized New York, and Breen highlights how the team’s success has reignited passion among fans who have waited generations for a championship. He acknowledges the annual tradition of fans accusing him of bias, but he insists his focus remains on celebrating great basketball, regardless of team. Breen has called numerous Knicks playoff games on national TV, including this year’s Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavaliers. He is known for his balanced approach, celebrating standout plays from any player, whether Knicks stars like Jalen Brunson or opponents like De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle. His deep connection to the franchise and the city makes this moment particularly meaningful.