For Mike Breen, one phrase is all it takes. Or, on particular events, two.
So far as iconic commentator catchphrases go, Breen’s “BANG!” is fairly excessive on the checklist. The phrase carries a reverberance far deeper than its 4 letters, able to breaking a fan’s coronary heart or sealing a reminiscence.
Breen says his signature name finds its roots throughout his school days at Fordham College — however not in the way in which you’d count on. Whereas Breen was a member of Fordham’s scholar radio station, WFUV, “bang” wasn’t his go-to name when he was on the air. Quite the opposite, it was what he’d yell within the stands after an enormous shot as a fan when he wasn’t calling a recreation.
As soon as Breen started calling extra video games for Fordham scholar radio, he tried to work “bang” into his big-moment repertoire, however shelved it after figuring out it did not sound correct on WFUV’s airwaves. When Breen graduated and started calling video games as soon as extra in packed highschool gymnasiums, his iconic tagline as soon as once more felt pure and reappeared.
Since its early days at Rose Hill Gymnasium within the Bronx, Breen’s “bang” has grown right into a nationwide phenomenon.
Stephen Curry has change into one thing of the poster boy for Breen’s “bang” signature through the years. As of September 2023 he is acquired by far probably the most such calls, due to a mixture of his longevity, frequent big-game appearances and apparent talent set from past the arc.
The Golden State Warriors star is effectively conscious of the connection between his recreation and Breen’s name. Curry was the first-ever participant to immediate a double bang from Breen, together with his deep game-winning 3-pointer towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in 2016 marking the spinoff name’s first utilization by Breen (at the very least as an NBA commentator). Seven years later Curry gifted Breen a pair of his new sneakers, which had been named the Curry 2 Bang Bang PE Retros in honor of the decision.
Curry’s shot was the primary instance of Breen’s occasional easy, however arguably much more iconic twist on his name, saved for when a game-changing second requires much more fanfare: the double bang.
With the double bang turning into extra frequent, it is pure to marvel if a triple bang is the pure subsequent step within the name’s evolution. However you should not maintain your breath — this 12 months.
In keeping with Breen, he’d solely take into account tripling up on his name if the New York Knicks have been taking part in within the NBA Finals. With New York out of the postseason this 12 months, anybody hoping to see one other variation of his well-known catchphrase shall be left ready till at the very least subsequent spring.
Listed below are probably the most notable examples of Breen’s signature name from this postseason.
1:31
Jaylen Brown buries 3 in ultimate seconds to tie recreation vs. Pacers
After Pascal Siakam’s blunder, the Celtics get the ball again and Jaylen Brown’s contested nook heave ties it up with 5.7 left within the fourth quarter.
With seconds remaining within the opening recreation of the Jap Convention finals, the Indiana Pacers regarded primed to steal a pivotal recreation in Boston.
Brown had different plans.
He drained a nook 3-pointer in shut quarters to tie the competition, which might moments later go to time beyond regulation. The Celtics would take Recreation 1 133-128.
Andrew Nembhard secures Indiana a memorable Recreation 3 victory
0:20
Andrew Nembhard buries an enormous trey for the Pacers
Andrew Nembhard heaves one from manner downtown to beat the shot clock and buries it.
Trailing the Jap Convention semifinals two video games to none, the Pacers returned to Gainbridge Fieldhouse searching for a momentum-boosting win. The competition got here right down to the wire, however Nembhard delivered the go-ahead shot with 16 seconds remaining to arrange Indiana’s first victory of the sequence. The Pacers would go on to take the sequence in seven video games.
Kyrie Irving caps masterful outing to seal Spherical 1 for Dallas
0:33
‘BANG!’ Kyrie Irving splashes unbelievable fadeaway triple
Kyrie Irving dribbles round his defender and by some means connects for an unreal and-1 trey within the nook.
The Dallas Mavericks had an opportunity to advance to the convention semifinals in entrance of their dwelling followers, and Kyrie Irving was as much as the duty. The veteran guard poured in 30 factors within the series-clinching 114-101 win, with the exclamation level approaching a mesmerizing and-1 bucket to assist the Mavericks put the LA Clippers out of attain.
Donte DiVincenzo takes the roof off of Madison Sq. Backyard
0:56
Backyard erupts as DiVincenzo places Knicks forward late with clutch 3
Donte DiVincenzo swishes a 3-pointer from the highest of the important thing to present the Knicks a one level lead late.
Issues did not look good late for the Knicks in Recreation 2 of their opening-round sequence towards the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers held a five-point lead with lower than a minute remaining, and appeared poised to take a tied sequence again to Philadelphia.
New York wasn’t achieved, although. A livid rally was capped by DiVincenzo, who cashed a go-ahead 3-pointer, paving the way in which for the Knicks to take Recreation 2 — and later the sequence.
