Mike Breen sets announcing record in calling 10th NBA Finals

OAKLAND, Calif. - Mike Breen recalls the riveting Game 7s, and still marvels at some memorable performances.

It's a lot of NBA Finals basketball to think about - more than anyone else who has sat in his center court seat.

While Stephen Curry and LeBron James are squaring off for the title, the guy describing the action on ABC is making history of his own.

Breen is calling his 10th NBA Finals, a record for a TV play-by-play announcer.

''It's such an honor and it's such a privilege to be able to call the finals and the number is, it's incomprehensible to me,'' Breen said.

Dick Stockton held the old record for a TV lead announcer by working nine finals, according to information provided by Elias to ESPN. Marv Albert did eight.

Breen said he always considers Albert the voice of the NBA. But when it comes to the championship round, the title now belongs to Breen.

One of five brothers from Yonkers, New York, Breen began considering broadcasting as a teenager as a way to stay in sports at the recommendation of a neighborhood friend who worked at a college radio station.

He graduated from Fordham, moved on to local radio and television stations around New York and ended up at MSG Network, where he has spent 23 seasons calling Knicks games, first on the radio and then TV.

He joined ESPN in 2003, began working the NBA Finals in 2006 and now calls more than 100 games per season between networks.

Breen, 54, said doing the Knicks games for MSG has helped his national work, because it allows him more time building relationships with players and coaches. Chris Paul once told Breen that his young son was imitating Breen's ''Bang!'' that he yells after a 3-pointer.

''He's really a New Yorker at heart. Only thing the guy likes more than Knicks basketball is Mets baseball. Had to hear about it all the damn time,'' said Warriors forward David Lee, who played five seasons with the Knicks.

''He also does a good job of keeping it honest like, `Hey, the Knicks are really struggling right now, this player needs to pick it up,' but at the same time doesn't kill the home team, which is no fun either. He does a great mix and I think fans appreciate that.''