The statement by Kyrie Irving last week about ‘not talking to pawns’ is earning him barbs from all corners, including Mike Breen.
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Possibly the NBA’s most famous current commentator, Mike Breen has made some of the most iconic calls in NBA history. The 59-year-old is currently in his 28th season covering the NBA. He has built a glittering reputation as a play-by-play commentator.
Breen is a play-by-play sports commentator for NBA on ABC. He is also the lead announcer for New York Knicks games on the MSG Network.
It’s quite out of character for Breen to be taking shots at a player from the league he covers. Although it’s been known to happen in the past, none of those insults were nearly as egregious as the shot he took at Kyrie.
Kyrie Irving ‘pawns’ statement elicits major reaction from revered NBA commentator Mike Breen
With the Lakers up 102-78 against the Clippers, the writing was on the wall for the result of the game. Talen Horton-Tucker’s hot shooting was garnering praise from all quarters. Breen chimed in with his dig at the Nets point guard, saying:
‘What do I know. I’m only a pawn from what I’m told.’
Ironically, the biggest moment of Kyrie’s career was immortalized by a characteristic ‘Bang!’. When Irving hit the shot that would prove to be the gamewinner against the Warriors in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, it was Breen who was on the mic.
It has been speculated that Irving will continue his media silence throughout the season. But that doesn’t seem to be the case as of this morning, when Irving cleared the air about his statement about the media being ‘pawns’. According to Kyrie, he earlier refused to speak to the press because of their ‘mistreatment of some artists’.
