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Who are the best you've heard?

I don't remember forming any major attachment to a particular announcer as a kid, other than going way out of my way to listen to Ken Beatrice on the radio. (Football, heck yes, but not basketball).

Probably go with Bob Costas for play by play, if for no other reason than you have to love a guy who once announced, "Let's hope we don't see a repeat of last Tuesday's blow job."

I liked Hubie Brown as a color guy.

Favorite commentator was Ken Beatrice, Washington radio guy. Annoying nasal voice, patted himself on the back a lot, but was super knowledgeable about virtually everything, even less known stuff like Euroleague basketball, world soccer leagues outside of the big names, and college baseball, and always played it completely straight.

As a function of my time watching, it’s Kevin Harlan or Ian Eagle for me. This is definitely influenced by watching a fair share of NFL and March Madness as well

Mark Jackson... he played no favorites had punchlines for days had no agendas, and was one of the few commentators on national tv with the cojones to openly critisize the golden state warriors if they were playing badly> havent watched an abc/espn telecast since he was let go

Gus Johnson

https://youtu.be/9gbf7hp-6Y4?si=ZjOE2HfJi902BYwH

Eric Collins

https://youtu.be/HHXNrJeXK7E?si=UnSQCI9VTYQi1RqZ

NBA4Lyfe wrote:Mark Jackson... he played no favorites had punchlines for days had no agendas, and was one of the few commentators on national tv with the cojones to openly critisize the golden state warriors if they were playing badly> havent watched an abc/espn telecast since he was let go

i really like george blaha.
for color give me stacey.total bogus and over the top but really enjoyable.at least for me.

I'm an LA guy so I gotta go with Chick.

I think either Kevin Harlan or Marv Albert (except for the latter's animosity toward Mike Fratello was at times uncomfortable) for announcer.

For colour commentary......not sure if he's really the colour guy (he's a bit of both), but I sort of like Jeff Van Gundy, actually. I like how Mark Jackson sort of teases him, and he takes it so well (and I don't get the sense of animus that I did with Albert/Fratello).

TOMMY POINTT

Kevin Harlan or in prime George Blaha!

+1 to Eric Collins. The guy is electrifying.

PBP: Ian Eagle. Doesn't really feel like a big game unless Mike Breen or Kevin Harlan are on it though. Shout outs to Mark Followill in Dallas, should definitely get a national gig at some point.
Color: solo JVG (Jackson brings out all his worst traits), SVG, Brent Barry for that one season.

Mike Breen is the gold standard. I mean every other announcer who has a signature phrase you never ever want to hear it again. But dangit if Bang doesn't give me goosebumps still.

Walton was my favorite color guy just because well you never knew what he might say. Kerr was pretty good too.

Marv Albert in his prime still the GOAT play by play guy to me, with Breen being his clear successor.

As for color guys, It's hard for me to come up with someone other than Hubie Brown. I learned so much from him and Jack Ramsay on the call growing up. It's very cool to hear him still calling games at 90 years old! He's still got it too as opposed to TNT shamelessly letting Marv continue for years when he'd constantly get stuff wrong.

And of course honorable mention to my namesake. His style is obviously unique, loves the knicks but not a homer on the broadcast at all. That's what fans should want.

Texas Chuck wrote:Mike Breen is the gold standard. I mean every other announcer who has a signature phrase you never ever want to hear it again. But dangit if Bang doesn't give me goosebumps still.

Walton was my favorite color guy just because well you never knew what he might say. Kerr was pretty good too.

I don't have a bad word to say about Breen, he deserves all the praise he gets, but I agree with Clyde - NBC Marv is the GOAT.

"Oh! A spec-tacular move, by Michael Jordan! That's thirteen consecutive field goals..."

"Michael, indicating, he can't believe it" (when he shrugged at Clifford Robinson)

"Smith blocked, Smith stopped, Smith blocked by Pippen" etc

"Rockets do not want to foul, Starks for three, came up short...!"

"Alright, twenty-five seconds in regulation, game tied at 86, four second differential between the twenty four second clock and and the game clock, it is Michael Jordan time, Scottie Pippen, looking, looking for Michael Jordan, checks the clock, five on the twenty-four, here's Jordan, did not have the shot, Kerr does, AND (drowned out by the crowd)"

"Jordan able to scoop up the loose ball, with the possession, with forty seconds remaining, the game tied 85, ten on the shot clock, Pippen, backing Hornacek, here's Jordan, YES! Michael Jordan, from straight away! He looks like he's a, a, a boxer, just hanging on, along the ropes, but able to hit for a three point Chicago lead." (Flu game, winning shot)

"We're down to seven seconds, Bryant putting the move on Christie, rebound O'Neal, coming up short, Horry, FOR THE WIN....YES!!!"

Coaches are usually the best color guys - Hubie is great, I always thought Doug Collins was a better commentator than coach, The Czar, JVG, etc. As for players, Walton is singular in terms of entertainment value.

As a Bulls fan, I want to give a shout out to the late, legendary Johnny "Red" Kerr and our current color guy Stacey King.

Breen is obvious. Marv as well but you have to erase the last 10 years or so from your memory. I like Ian Eagle and his barrage of dad jokes. Blaha and Steele are solid local guys IMO.

JVG is a lot better when separated from Mark Jackson's corny ass. Hubie is always rock solid. I liked Kerr when he was in the booth. Clyde's rhyming always cracked me up, and he isn't a homer like a lot of local colour guys.

OldSchoolNoBull wrote:...As a Bulls fan, I want to give a shout out to the late, legendary Johnny "Red" Kerr and our current color guy Stacey King.

Stacey King finally found a niche he is good at? Good to hear as he was one of those victims of MJ's constant disparagement.

OldSchoolNoBull wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:Mike Breen is the gold standard. I mean every other announcer who has a signature phrase you never ever want to hear it again. But dangit if Bang doesn't give me goosebumps still.

Walton was my favorite color guy just because well you never knew what he might say. Kerr was pretty good too.

I don't have a bad word to say about Breen, he deserves all the praise he gets, but I agree with Clyde - NBC Marv is the GOAT.

Yeah its obviously subjective. And I know for me part of why I like Breen is almost certainly because he's the sound track to the little Mavs only title. All those big comebacks and huge Dirk moments are called by him.

So he's obviously really good at his job, but also I clearly have some sentimental ties bleeding in with him.

Not sure if the same is true with you and Marv, but it would be understandable since he was the guy for the threepeats.

Matt Guokas was fantastic as a color commentator for the Magic. Very knowledgeable about the game and also had great sense of humour. And he didn't shy away from giving the Magic's opponents credit or admitting when we benefit from ref mistakes.

Mike Gorman, consumate professional 40 years of duty, let the game speak for itself rather than over-engineering commentary like many of today's crews do. All whilst artfully steering our favourite homer Tommy Heinsohn on colour.

Mike Breen is a big fan, and before 'bang' there was 'got it'.