Walt Frazier-Mike Breen Celebrate Their 25th On-Air Anniversary: “The Uncanny Chemistry”

Together with former Knicks point player Walt Frazier, who is now a colour analyst, and play-by-play guy Mike Breen, the New York Knicks have possibly the most recognizable broadcast booth in the entire NBA. They discussed what has kept their on-air friendship strong for all these years ahead of the pair’s 25th anniversary of their first MSG Network broadcast together.

Walt Frazier-Mike Breen Celebrate Their 25th On-Air Anniversary: “The Uncanny Chemistry”

On February 5, 1999, the two first appeared on the MSG Network during a game between the Orlando Magic and the Knicks. The two appear to still love working together after all these years.

“They just showed us a clip of it. I look like I’m 11, and this son of a [gun] looks the same now as he did back then,” Breen joked while seated next to the 78-year-old Frazier for an interview last week.

Before, during, and after Tuesday’s broadcast of the Knicks game against the Grizzlies, MSG will celebrate the popular pairing’s 25-year anniversary of the beginning of their TV partnership with a conversation with the Hall of Fame play-by-play man and his beloved longtime partner, who is now a two-time Hall inductee as both a superstar player and a colourful analyst.

“When you’re a professional player, you know there’s a limit. Sooner or later guys retire, 12 years, 14 years if you’re lucky,” Frazier said. “It was something new for me, I was enjoying it and then working with Mike, and liking to work with Mike, I never thought about the time sequence of it.

For MSG Networks, Frazier has reduced the number of away games in recent years. However, he recently disclosed that he does not currently have any intentions to retire. Indeed, Frazier said he intends to collaborate with Breen for “as long as he can.”

On Monday, the actual anniversary of Breen and Frazier’s on-air collaboration, the Knicks are off. However, the New York Post reports that MSG would commemorate the occasion “before, during, and after” Tuesday’s telecast of the Knicks vs. Grizzlies game.

“I was petrified at first. He didn’t know it at the time. But I was so nervous. … Here’s this Hall of Famer, I’m a young broadcaster and for him to bring me in and respect and treat me with such kindness gave me all the confidence in the world.”

After winning the coveted Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2020, Breen—whose trademark “Bang” call has also been a mainstay as a national broadcaster for ABC and ESPN for the previous 18 NBA Finals—joined Frazier in the Hall of Fame.

Two years later, or thirty-five years after his induction for his playing days in 1987, Frazier was also honoured to become a broadcaster.

“What he’s done, he’s made such a niche in his style, and he’s never wavered off the style,” Breen said. “When he first started doing the rhymes, he took some criticism. It wasn’t greeted with open arms, but he stayed with it and his vocabulary is just off the charts.”

Fortunately for fans in New York and elsewhere, Frazier and Breen have no plans to call it quits anytime soon. Although he has reduced his number of travel games as per their agreement, Frazier stated in an interview with All Knicks in June that he plans to continue working with Breen “for as long as I can.”

Is Walt Frazier still broadcasting?

Following his basketball retirement, Frazier entered the broadcasting industry and is now the colour commentator for Knicks games shown on the MSG Network.

Who does Mike Breen announce for?

Since 2006, he has served as the primary commentator for NBA games, including the NBA Finals, on ABC and ESPN. In addition, he serves as the primary MSG Network broadcaster for New York Knicks games.

Is Mike Breen still commentating?

This NBA Finals play-by-play announcer and primary NBA pundit for ESPN is in his 21st season with the network and ABC. 2020 saw Breen get the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

 

 

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