Mike Breen Explains His Call At The End of Cavaliers vs. Knicks | Postgame Show

Summary

Podcast Summary
The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Mike Breen Explains His Call At The End of Cavaliers vs. Knicks | Postgame Show
Date: May 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively postgame installment from the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their cohort dissect recent sports stories, poke fun at themselves, and, most notably, connect with famed NBA broadcaster Mike Breen to discuss his much-talked-about call at the end of the Cavaliers vs. Knicks game. The episode blends classic show antics—ranging from football field challenges to heated basketball debates—with authentic insights into the art of live sports commentary.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching a Punt Challenge (00:32–03:16)

• Premise: Dan suggests the crew attempt to catch football punts, claiming it’s one of the hardest jobs in football, inspired by offensive linemen fumbling the task.
• Crew’s Self-Assessment:
  • Chris Cody estimates he’d catch 3/10.
  • Tony, factoring in a helmet, lowers his estimate from 5/10 to 4/10.
  • Greg (playing the “football expert” role) aims for 7/10 if the punt is directed right at him.
  • Dan insists this be filmed, hinting at viral potential.

Quote:
Dan: "I believe to be the single scariest job in that sport... you're looking up into the sky and a bunch of people are running at you full speed and... it's really difficult to catch." (00:32)

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2. Jason Kidd Fired by Mavericks—NBA Coaching Carousel (03:21–05:25)

• Discussion: The implications of Jason Kidd’s firing from the Dallas Mavericks after not being given a shot to coach generational talent Cooper Flag.
• Zaz: Not surprised by the exit, hinting at front office politics and Kidd's failed bid for team president.
• Juju: Praises Masai Ujiri’s vision, acknowledges Kidd’s contributions, but accepts it’s time to move on.
• Greg: Reminds that Kidd is not to blame for roster missteps and argues recent success should have bought him more leeway.

Quote:
Greg: "First of all, he didn't trade Luca. Like, you can't blame Jason Kidd for that disastrous trade. And second of all, they make the final two years ago. Like that's not good enough anymore. Crazy." (05:08)

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3. Kenny Atkinson, James Harden, and In-Game Coaching Decisions (05:32–08:44)

• Juju’s Rant: Advocates benching James Harden due to poor third-quarter performance, arguing that playoffs are not the time for ego management.
• Jeremy Tache: Notes how rare it is for an opposing coach (Mike Brown) to openly target a superstar’s weaknesses postgame.
• Dan counters: Emphasizes the human aspect of coaching, cautioning against public displays of distrust towards decorated players in crunch time. Chris Cody reminds leaders must sometimes make hard choices.
• Debate Touchpoint: Team ego vs. winning in the playoffs.

Quote:
Juju: "This guy is getting cooked. I don't give a damn how this brother feel. This is the playoffs, bro." (06:52)
Dan: "...a coach cannot look at a final piece and say that loudly, I don't trust you. To that guy, a hall of Famer, I don't trust you." (07:12)

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4. Polls, Birthday Banter & Hibachi Tales (08:44–10:36)

• Poll Results:
  • Word “rappy cack” – 97% have never used it.
  • Who's more competitive: Mina Kimes or Victor Wembanyama? 86% say Mina.
  • Is it cheating to practice for Jeopardy with a fake buzzer? 72% say “no.”
• Chris Cody’s Birthday: Celebrates by eating hibachi two nights in a row; crew jokes about the residual smell and the awkwardness of sharing hibachi tables with strangers.

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5. Mike Breen Joins—The 'Bang' Call Explained (11:19–15:20)

Entry and Setup

• Dan dials in Mike Breen to discuss his infamous partial “Bang!” call on a near-game-winning three-pointer by Sam Merrill in the Cavs-Knicks game.

Mike Breen’s Candid Reflection

• Admits he’s made many “mistakes” on air and attributes them to the authentic excitement of live broadcasting.
• Explains the tension between accurate, impartial calls and genuine emotional reactions—sometimes the brain thinks a shot is good before the ball drops.

Quote:
Mike Breen: “Honestly, Dan, I make mistakes every game... It's live television. I get emotional, I get excited and I thought, I really thought that one was going in. So, what happens?” (11:54)

• Nick Wright’s friendly accusation that Breen is sometimes “too eager” to seem impartial is discussed. Breen insists he simply calls what he sees.

Historical Broadcasting Anecdotes

• Shares how legendary announcer Jim Gordon handled on-the-fly corrections—miscalling “complete, incomplete” on passes—which Breen found endearing and relatable (12:41).
• Tells a funny bubble-era mix-up: called a made basket after a net swish—only for Jeff Van Gundy to point out it was an airball (14:52).

Good-Natured Teasing & Sign-Off

• Dan jokes about “premature bangulation” (Breen’s signature “Bang!” call voiced too early), promising to have Breen on again whenever something “interesting” like this occurs.
• Breen is a good sport, expressing that his rare mistakes make for more fun on the show, and playfully noting he hasn’t been invited back since the last memorable interview.
• Dan wraps up by referencing the Nick Wright joke and bidding Breen thanks and love.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Dan, reflecting on sports commentary:
  "If you're looking for the perfect call, I'm not your guy." — Mike Breen (11:54)

• On coaching superstars in playoff pressure:
  "This is the playoffs, bro." — Juju (06:52)

• On on-air mistakes and the charm of live broadcasting:
  “He throws. Complete, incomplete. He would do that four or five times a game. And it was, I thought it was marvelous because he thought it was complete. And he corrected right away.” — Mike Breen (12:41)

• Dan on Breen’s authenticity:
  "You get them right too often is the problem. You do it correctly. That's not interesting. But you get half a bang out... then I'm gonna have you on." — Dan Le Batard (14:34)

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Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:32: Start of the ‘catching a punt’ challenge debate
• 03:21: Transition to Jason Kidd and Mavericks segment
• 05:32: Juju’s Harden/Atkinson rant and coaching debate
• 08:44: Start of poll results and birthday/hibachi banter
• 11:19: Mike Breen joins the show for his segment
• 11:40: Breen’s live call replayed and discussed
• 12:31–13:41: Breen shares broadcasting mistakes and insights
• 14:52: Breen tells bubble era “airball” story

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains its signature blend of irreverent humor, camaraderie, and passionate sports analysis. The playful jabs, genuine admiration for Mike Breen, and the oscillation between serious sports talk and inside jokes create an accessible yet insightful recap of both the NBA’s latest drama and the nuances of live sports broadcasting.

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For New Listeners

This episode is both a primer in the art of sports commentary—thanks to Mike Breen’s honest reflections—and a classic snapshot of the Le Batard Show’s unique mix of sports, comedy, and friendly chaos. Missing it live means missing the “Bang!” in real time, but this recap delivers all of the episode’s heart, laughs, and sports wisdom.

Transcript

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[Dan]

I was thinking the other day, as I have since the season of football ended, and I lamented the fact that the rams fell from 1 to 5 in seating because their punt returner couldn't catch the ball, that the returning of punts I believe to be the single scariest job in that sport. Just because you're looking up into the sky and a bunch of people are running at you full speed and I think it's really difficult to catch. Pun. Carolina Panthers. You're watching an assortment of offensive linemen here try to catch punts, and I am insisting that our show try to do this. I'm insisting that Tony and Chris, Cody and Roy go out to a football field. Can you guys please.

[Chris Cody]

I'm catching a punt.

[Dan]

I don't believe. I believe you guys will go, like, what are you thinking is the over. Under? If I give you 10 punts to catch, how many do you think you guys are going to catch collectively?

[Roy]

If we all are for all in.

[Chris Cody]

No, no. Each.

[Dan]

Each of you gets 10 chances to catch a. That is the equivalent. Like, we're gonna have a college punter do it right?

[Chris Cody]

We're gonna have them or the machine that they use.

[Dan]

We need to make sure that it's not a stinky punt or a line drive punt. It's got to be straight into the sky. And you're also doing it without people running toward you, which changes the degree of difficulty.

[Chris Cody]

I would put. You know, I know people think that I overstate my athletic. Athletic ability. I would put good money. I would catch three out of ten.

[Zaz]

Really?

[Dan]

That's that low?

[Zaz]

Yeah, that's very low.

[Greg]

Oh.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, it's not easy. I've never done it before. I'm just like, assuming. So I'm kind of putting the bar a little low.

[Roy]

That's sandbagging is what you're doing.

[Dan]

You guys are seeing offensive linemen. I know we can make fun of their athleticism, but these are athletes and they look ridiculous. Like the. When you. When I'm showing you professional Athletes, offensive linemen are not trying to catch this falling out of the sky. They look like they're people who have never been around football before. Because I think this is a lot harder than you guys think it is. Greg, what would you say as a football expert?

[Mike Breen]

What?

[Dan]

How many do you think? If I had to set a betting number on how many your son is going to catch, where would you put it?

[Greg]

Okay. If the punt is fairly right at me, in other words, if I don't have to move more than 5 yards and in any direction, I would catch 7 out of 10 price if I have to.

[Dan]

You send him out there to go

[Tony]

with him at this point? He's old.

[Dan]

No, go with him. I need you. I need you to take him. I need you to take him with you.

[Tony]

Do we have to have a helmet on? Because that is my big fan, of course.

[Zaz]

Oh, the helmet on, that's tough.

[Dan]

Yeah.

[Tony]

All right, I'm going. I'll set mine at 4 if I have to have a helmet.

[Dan]

All right.

[Tony]

Without a helmet, I'd be at 5.

[Dan]

We're going. We're going to absolutely do this. And I ask that you please take Greg out there because it would be good video.

[Zaz]

Better break a hip.

[Dan]

That's fine.

[Mike Breen]

Yeah, I need to have that helmet on because I don't want to get hit in the face with the football, which is most likely going to happen.

[Dan]

Juju is going to join us here in a second. We didn't get to something that was fairly big news, I guess, which is that Jason Kidd's not going to get the prime of Cooper Flag to make sure that the rest of Jason Kidd's coaching career, even though I think he'll get other jobs because he's been around a long time and he's done well enough, I suppose, and he's popular, he does things politically well with executives who hire him for very good positions. What were your thoughts, Zaz, on Jason Kidd being fired by the Mavericks? It really stinks when you get a generational player and are not allowed to coach him. Pop stepped down at the perfect time for any coach to step into the perfect situation in San Antonio.

[Zaz]

Yeah, so it was amazing. Mutual parting of ways. But I'm not surprised at all that he's out, because when Messiah Jerry was introduced, what was it, a week or two ago? I mean, it was very clear the way he answered the question about Jason Kidd, that Jason Kidd is not going to be the coach of this team moving forward. But also Jason Kidd apparently wanted to be the team president. If you're trying to be the team president and then they hire someone else instead. There's no way you are still with that team.

[Roy]

And it's unfortunate because he did a good job with Cooper, Flag and Juj. I'd like to get your thoughts on this too. Like turning him into a point guard in the beginning of the season, like allowed him to create an offense that was not just him slashing, not just him in transition, but like creating a more complete full spectrum offensive game for him. Juju, what do you think about the firing of Jason Kidd?

[Juju]

Yeah, I agree with both of y'.

[Dan]

All.

[Juju]

The combination of what both of y' all said. Masai got knowledge, bruh. Messiah ain't no sit by and hire somebody to do something. Messiah got a plan and unfortunately Jason Kidd just didn't fit whatever plan that is. Salute to him getting us that far to the to the chip one time but his time was over.

[Greg]

I think it's kind of stupid that they made the move now. First of all, he didn't trade Luca. Like, like you can't blame Jason Kidd for that disastrous trade. And second of all, they make the final two years ago. Like that's not good enough anymore. Crazy Juju.

[Zaz]

Last night we all saw what went down. I. I think Kenny Atkinson deserves a lot of blame. Where do you stand?

[Juju]

Exactly. That's what I. I' ma say what Dan wouldn't allow y' all to say. For some reason my boy Dan turned into a Nick supporter. I don't know what's happening. It was 907 in the morning and Dan talking about nobody's celebrating the knees, bro. It's early as hell. Kick it off. Let's celebrate. You feel me? So I'm gonna go through some points that why we should and could be allowed to criticize that boy Kenny, man, number one man take James ass out. He barely played in the third quarter when things was rolling any damn way. He's scared to file. He got four files, he's scared to foul and he getting cooked. Take his ass out. That's regular people knowledge in the earth. That's not no super duper coach need to understand what happened. Take his ass out. What you think about that ass?

[Zaz]

Honestly, like I wonder. I wonder what the fallout is if you do that. Like you almost can't do it for what it means for the rest of the series.

[Dan]

It's a funny thing that Juju is suggesting there and there are very few coaches that will take the final piece that's been added to get you over the hump. And bench it in the first game of the most. I'm saying of the most important.

[Juju]

It's. It's the playoffs though, guys. This is not the time to cater to you Beyonce style. Max Sch is giving you energy when he's in. Dennis Schroeder is the European player of the year. We need some energy.

[Mike Breen]

We.

[Juju]

This guy is getting cooked. I don't give a damn how this brother feel. This is the playoffs, bro.

[Jeremy Tache]

I don't think I've ever heard an opposing head coach talk about an all time great the way that Mike Brown just volunteered at the end of the, at the end of that game when speaking to the press. Yeah, we were hunting him. We were hunting James Harden. We were hunting one of the 75 greatest players in the history of the NBA.

[Dan]

Here's the problem with that though. And I understand how it is that juju is arriving at playing the result of obviously get him out of the game. That's a disaster. It's cruel what they're doing to James Harden. One a coach cannot look at a final piece and say that loudly, I don't trust you. To that guy, a hall of Famer, I don't trust you. Never mind if his confidence is shaky. His coach signs up for, yeah, it's shaky because I can't play you.

[Chris Cody]

But Dan, you always say leaders make difficult decisions. Like it's easier for the coach there just to hide behind. This is my best.

[Zaz]

But he may feel that the difficult decision is trying to get through this game because I actually do need him to play well for us to even win the series.

[Jeremy Tache]

Kenny Atkinson is regarded as a good coach and was fired from places. Had left a lot of people confused because he doesn't really give a crap about what the superstars think and he doesn't have loyalty to James Harden who is a mercenary who just got to Cleveland. I don't think Kenny is that guy if he's. If he has James Harden out on the floor, I think there's a good reason for it.

[Dan]

I would understand if, if anybody here is saying the very simple get him out. And I'm asking you now as a coach has to manage human beings, egos, has to be at the side of his players. This is the one guy you got for this situation. You're going to announce to everyone that you trust him less than everyone else trusts him.

[Zaz]

And you're also essentially telling your general manager, bad trade.

[Jeremy Tache]

I think Kenny Atkinson deserves a little credit here because he's kind of a hard ass juju.

[Zaz]

We got some Polls today to update. What do we got?

[Juju]

Yes, sir. Man, have you ever used the word rappy cack? 97 of the audience says, no, they haven't. Well, they're about to learn weird, more competitive. Mina Kimes or Victor Wembanyama? 86 of the audience says Mina Kimes.

[Tony]

She was.

[Juju]

So I get to this. Yeah, I don't like what y' all did to my sister right there. Put her in that game. Before I get to the last poll, I'd like to say happy birthday to my brother, man. My, my, my big dog, Chris Cody, man, like, happy birthday to him.

[Mike Breen]

I don't care. Good luck.

[Zaz]

Thank you.

[Chris Cody]

Thank you. As part of my birthday celebration, I went to a hibachi place two nights in a row. The last two nights.

[Tony]

Oh, my God, you're living.

[Zaz]

You bring any home now?

[Chris Cody]

I didn't choose to do this. I brought some home the first night. The second night.

[Dan]

How bad does your clothes smell?

[Juju]

Ugh, the best.

[Chris Cody]

The post Hibachi. Just like, feeling tired feeling. I've had that a lot the last few days. I didn't have to like my. My family. I don't need to get into details of why I did it. It was just scheduling, and all of a sudden I'm going there two nights in a row. And did I push back on that? No, I did not.

[Zaz]

Now, did you make sure that it was just you at the table with the stove? Because if you got other people, you got stranger.

[Jeremy Tache]

That sucks.

[Chris Cody]

No, I had a big enough crew both nights that it was all people. That is awkward, though, when you get at a hibachi table and it's just like, let's do this awkward thing where we don't talk to each other, but we make awkward.

[Tony]

Did you have the same order both nights?

[Chris Cody]

No, I changed it up.

[Roy]

The shrimp throw the thing in your mouth or.

[Chris Cody]

No, the first night there was some shrimp tossing. Not the second night, the shrimp throw

[Dan]

the thing in your mouth. A shrimp fried this rice. This is what you just said with your first. I knew what he meant to a microphone, and I don't know how long was. Did the shrimp throw something at you?

[Zaz]

What an idiot.

[Juju]

But yeah, I'm last pole. Is it cheating to buy a fake buzzer to practice for jeopardy? 72% of the audience says no, and those are your posts.

[Dan]

That's a shock right there. That is. I thought for sure people would want to accuse Mina Kimes of cheating There. You guys can leave. Mike Breen has told us to call him so you guys can leave. And I Will just sit here until we get Mike Breen on the phone here because my timing is not exceptional here and I just have a telephone number and a text. He doesn't want to do zoom. He doesn't want to do anything else. So just call Mike Breen so that I can get an answer to the question that we have.

[Mike Breen]

Hello?

[Dan]

Hello, Mike. It's nice to hear you sounding so chipper, obviously, because the Knicks won last night and you're incredibly biased.

[Mike Breen]

How much do I love you?

[Dan]

Let's play this for Mike Breen, one of the most professional of the professionals who have ever been professional and see how he feels about this call last night.

[Mike Breen]

Merrill, three pointer, in and out. That one halfway down.

[Dan]

Has that ever happened to you before, Mike, where you get half a bang out and then get it not wrong because you called it very well, given what the situation was.

[Mike Breen]

Yes, it has. I think I got the B and the A out last night a couple of times. I've had to be the A and the end. So. Yes, no, it has. Honestly, Dan, I make, I make mistakes every game. If you're looking for the perfect call, I'm not your guy. I'm so in awe of. There's so many great play by play voices now. And I'm in awe when they, they go whole games without a mistake. But I make them all the time. It's just, it's live television. I get emotional, I get excited and I thought, I really thought that one was going in. So what happens?

[Dan]

Nick Wright accused you of being so eager to appear impartial that you got a little ahead of yourself. Is the accusation accurate?

[Mike Breen]

Well, in his mind it is. So. But in my. No, no, I really thought it was going in. It could have been a game winner. I'm a big Sam Merrill fan. But no, it looked like it was good. And on the replay at least that did justify me coming close to getting it right because it was, it really was about half the ball. It was under the cylinder and then it just popped out. But I, you know, again, it's not the first time. Probably won't be the last time. You know what I remember when I was a kid, I was, I'm a big New York guy and football fan. Remember the announcer named Jim Gordon? He was the radio voice, did the Rangers too. Was a great play by play guy in my childhood. And when he would call a giant pass, he'd go, bill Sims back to pass. He throws. Complete, incomplete. He would do that four or five times a game. And it was, I thought it was marvelous because he thought it was complete. And he corrected right away, in and out, that one. Halfway down.

[Tony]

Dan, Nick Wright is going to be so mad at you. He specifically said that Mike Breen is one of the only people that he cares to have the respect of. And then you just went and laid him under the bus.

[Mike Breen]

No, I didn't lay him under the bus at all.

[Tony]

No, not you, Mike. Not you, Mike. No, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike.

[Mike Breen]

As a.

[Tony]

As a fellow regional NBA broadcaster, I need to make it abundantly clear you and I. Simpatico. But Nick Wright.

[Dan]

Dan threw Nick.

[Juju]

Right.

[Dan]

I can't believe you just did that to Mike Breen. That's on it. He and I, we're here. Fellow regional broadcast Jeremy Tache, saying he's a fellow anything of yours.

[Zaz]

That's Ta che.

[Dan]

Thank you, Mike, for being on with us. Thank you for being a good sport. Yes, we do. Love you.

[Mike Breen]

I'm worried, though. The last time I was on, we had this great, emotional, long interview, and then you hadn't had me on since then. I saw a little. Little neglected.

[Dan]

You want to box more often? I'll have you on more often. You get them right. Too often is the problem. You do it correctly. That's not interesting. But you get half a bang out, and then Zaz accuses you of premature bangulation, Then I'm gonna have you on one last thing.

[Mike Breen]

So we're in the bubble, and. And I. I think it was Eric Gordon took a shot. Now, in the bubble, we were 25 rows up, and we were behind plexiglass, so sometimes the angle was funky. And Eric Gordon takes a shot, and it goes under the rim and hits the net. Perfectly with the net. Splashes like it went in. And I make the call. Eric Gordon. It's good. And Jeff Gundy is my partner at the time. He pauses a second, he goes, mike, that was an airball. So these things will happen, and they'll happen more.

[Dan]

Love you. Love your work. Thank you, sir. Bleep out me saying the words Nick Wright so I can deny it. Thank you, guys. Thank you, Mike.