Mike Breen is not a fan of one of the NBA’s subtle changes for this coming postseason.
The veteran announcer was on the call for the New York Knicks’ final regular-season finale Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, N.Y. Breen, the primary play-by-play man of the Knicks’ MSG Network, spoke candidly about the NBA’s decision to disallow local broadcasts of the first round of the playoffs.
National TV partners were granted exclusive rights to cover the entire postseason beginning just this year. That means that each playoff team’s local TV voices were going to be silent when they had been allowed to call games through the first round in previous years.
Breen slammed the decision during a play stoppage in the third quarter of the Knicks-Hornets game.
“This is the first time ever that no longer can the home team announcers and broadcasters televise the first round. The entire playoffs exclusive to the national TV partners. … I personally think it’s a poor decision,” Breen ranted.
“Fans want to hear their team’s announce team, at least 1st round, because for so many of us, … the home team announcers become part of the family. … I get it. The networks pay a fortune for exclusivity … But I just think the fans deserve to be thrown a bone once in a while. This is our final telecast of the season.”
Mike Breen: "1st time ever…entire playoffs exclusive to national TV…poor decision…fans want to hear their home team announcers, at least 1st round…part of the family. I get networks pay a fortune…but fans deserve to be thrown a bone…This is our final telecast of the season" pic.twitter.com/knsUysK261
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) April 12, 2026
Breen arguably has the most standing to make such a case, given that he’ll be on the call for ESPN all the way through the NBA Finals. He’s not losing out on a gig as a bitter regional broadcaster. He’s the NBA’s premier play-by-play announcer who also happens to call local games for his hometown Knicks.
Breen may side with the little guy and the local fans for this one, but money from the major networks will probably drown out any complaints that may reach Adam Silver’s ears.
