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Mike Breen bang bang history: Every time ESPN announcer has hit a rare double 'bang' during NBA broadcasts

Bryan Murphy

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Mike Breen bang bang history: Every time ESPN announcer has hit a rare double 'bang' during NBA broadcasts image

It's hard to find a better basketball broadcaster currently in the game than Mike Breen.

The ESPN play-by-play broadcaster and leading voice of the Knicks on MSG never fails to bring the energy to the booth. From jaw-dropping buzzer-beaters, to sensational blocks, to ferocious slam dunks, Breen is always on his A-game when he's on the mic. The legendary broadcaster already has carved himself a role as one of hoops' greatest voices, joining the likes of Hubie Brown, Marv Albert and Chick Hearn. 

Every announcer has a calling card — a go-to phrase to throw out every so often to truly captivate the moment. For Breen, that's his iconic "bang," usually given when a clutch 3-pointer is made in the game. 

While Breen's "bang" is rare, it is uttered fairly often throughout a season. However, even more scarce is his infamous "double bang." Only a handful of plays during his time on the mic have warranted not one, but two "bangs" from Breen. 

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So which plays have gotten the special treatment from the announcer? Here is a timeline of every double "bang" in Breen's broadcasting career. 

Mike Breen double 'bang' timeline

Steph Curry, Warriors vs. Thunder, 2015-16 regular season

How fitting is it that Breen's first-ever double "bang" came courtesy of the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history?

The first time fans were treated to one of his rare calls was in 2016 during a game between the Warriors and the Thunder. Steph Curry was cooking like usual, but the game seemed destined for overtime, with the two sides knotted at 118-118 with just seconds left in regulation. 

The sharpshooter already had made 11 3-point attempts before he got the ball in his hands with seconds on the clock. Instead of using a timeout, Curry pulled up from the logo and made an incredible shot, which paved the way for the inaugural "bang, bang!"

The shot not only gave the Warriors the lead with less than a second on the clock, but it tied the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a single game with 12. 

Eric Gordon, Rockets vs. Lakers, 2018-19 regular season

It took three years for Breen to drop another one of his iconic phrases on the mic. This time, it was courtesy of Eric Gordon. 

During a regular season matchup between the Rockets and Lakers, Houston found itself down 120-117 and running out of time. With just 4.9 seconds on the clock, the team has to find an open player off the inbounds pass for a look beyond the arc. 

Gordon got that look. He took the pass, pump-faked two Los Angeles defenders and put up an off-balance, awkward-looking shot. It was good enough to find the basket, tying the game at 120-120 and bringing out Breen's double "bang."

The Rockets defeated the Lakers 138-134 in overtime to take the contest in January. 

Luka Doncic, Mavericks vs. Clippers, 2020 Western Conference First Round Game 2

There may not have been fans in the stands during the 2020 playoff bubble in the NBA, but Breen made sure viewers at one felt the impact of the moment after a Luka Doncic game-winning basket. 

The Mavericks were down 133-132 to the Clippers in Game 2 of their first-round series. With just 3.7 seconds left, Dallas had to get the ball in play and toward the basket as quick as possible. Dorian Finney-Smith found Doncic, who then created space from his defender with his handles and let the shot go with fractions of a second on the clock. 

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It was successful, and Breen exploded with his "bang, bang!"

The basket capped off a 43-point night for Doncic. Despite the win, the Mavericks eventually lost the series 4-2 to the Clippers. 

Marcus Smart, Celtics vs. Knicks, 2021-22 regular season

Breen may be the voice of the Knicks, but that doesn't mean he won't use his catchphrase when a shot falls against New York. 

That was the case in the 2021-22 season opener between the Celtics and the Knicks. In a thrilling contest between rivals, the game went down to the wire, with New York holding a 116-113 lead with 4.8 seconds left. After receiving the in-bounds pass, Jayson Tatum slipped, which looked like it would doom the Celtics. But he recovered, hit Dennis Schroder with a pass, who then found an open Marcus Smart behind the arc. He let the long rage shot go and it tied the game with zeroes on the clock, forcing overtime. 

The Knicks got the last laugh during the extra periods. It took two overtimes, but New York eventually emerged victorious, beating Boston 138-134. 

Julius Randle, Knicks vs. Heat, 2022-23 regular season

The first Knick to ever get the double "bang" treatment ended up being one of the most unlikely shooters. 

In a March 2023 game, Miami had New York on the ropes, up by one point with 12 seconds left in regulation. Jimmy Butler put the clamps on Julius Randle, who fumbled the ball not once, but twice before regaining possession. Knowing that he had little time left to get a shot off, the forward took step back 3-pointer as a last-second effort to save the game. 

Randle knocked down the 3-point attempt, giving New York a 122-120 lead and win over the Heat. It marked the team's eighth win in a row at the time. 

Steph Curry, Warriors vs. Lakers, 2023-24 regular season

For the second time in his career, Curry was responsible for Breen "bang, bang."

A Saturday matinee game in late January 2024 between the Warriors and the Lakers did not disappoint. The ABC contest went to double overtime, with Curry going back-and-forth with LeBron James. In the second overtime period, Los Angeles found itself up 143-141 with just 7.3 seconds left on the clock. 

That was too much time for Curry, who took an inbounds pass and launched a deep 3-point attempt. Like many in his career, the shot fell, giving Golden State a 144-143 lead with four seconds left. 

The only problem? That wasn't the most clutch shot of the game. James was fouled on his way to the basket with 1.2 seconds left, and he made both free throws to give the Lakers a 145-144 win over the Warriors. 

Donte DiVincenzo, Knicks vs. 76ers, 2024 Eastern Conference First Round Game 2

Game 2 of the 2024 Eastern Conference first-round series between the Knicks and 76ers delivered one of the most impressive endings to a basketball game you'll find. It's a moment that will live in the dreams of New York fans, and the nightmares of Philadelphia fanatics. 

The 76ers held a five-point lead over the Knicks with just 27 seconds left in the contest. It appeared as though Philadelphia was well on its way to a victory, but then, magic happened. An insane sequence of miscues by the 76ers and clutch shots by the Knicks ultimately resulted in a 3-pointer from Donte DiVincenzo to send MSG into elation, giving the hometown team an improbable one-point lead. 

The Knicks won the game 104-101, and eventually knocked off the 76ers in six games. 

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"Three or four specific things had to happen and they did," Breen said of the double "bang" call to The New York Post. "So when he hit that shot and the crowd went crazy, it just came out. It’s not something that was thought of, it just came out for such a spectacular play during this extraordinary sequence in such a huge playoff game."

Jaylen Brown, Celtics vs. Pacers, 2024 Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 

The most recent double "bang" out of Breen occurred during the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and the Pacers. Indiana was up three points with eight seconds on the clock in regulation. Boston needed a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime.  

Jayson Tatum found an open Jaylen Brown in the corner, who pump-faked Pascal Siakim and then went up for the tying shot. It fell in, which knotted the game at 117-117, and elicited a double "bang" out of Breen. 

Boston went on to take the opening contest of the series 133-128 in overtime. 

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.