Mike Breen has become one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting since joining ESPN in 2003. As the lead NBA play-by-play announcer since 2006, Breen’s iconic “Bang!” call has echoed through countless NBA moments.
But on Wednesday, fans were sent into a frenzy after a rumor began circulating that the legendary announcer was retiring. Fortunately, the rumor was completely false.
BREAKING: Longtime NBA play-by-play announcer Mike Breen is retiring after more than three decades in broadcasting, sources tell ESPN.
— Scam Charnia (@ScamCharnia) July 2, 2025
The Hall of Famer and voice of 18 straight NBA Finals leaves behind one of the most iconic legacies in sports media. pic.twitter.com/lG51zUod0G
The confusion stemmed from a misleading post shared by a parody account mimicking ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania. The account, named “Scam Charnia,” posted a fake retirement announcement. The post was completed with an image of Breen and the phrase “breaking news” to make it appear legitimate. Although the username was clearly a spoof, the post quickly spread online and fooled many.
Breen signed a multi-million-dollar, two-year contract extension in 2023. He is expected to continue his career with ESPN in the upcoming season as well. Despite this, the fabricated post still rattled fans as they remained on edge until the hoax was debunked.
Top ESPN Reporters Were Fooled By Shocking Mike Breen’s Retirement Buzz
Shockingly, two well-known ESPN reporters, Ramona Shelburne and Marc J. Spears, also fell for the trap. Both journalists mistook the parody account for the real Shams Charania and reposted the false news on X.
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Lmao two ESPNers fell for this crap pic.twitter.com/j4eug06xLI
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 2, 2025
The mistake was quickly corrected. Yet, it showed how even experienced professionals can get caught off guard.
The buzz around the false retirement comes on the heels of a major milestone in Breen’s career. He recently called his 20th NBA Finals. With a new contract secured and no retirement in sight, Mike Breen isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Fans can look forward to plenty more unforgettable “Bang!” calls in the coming NBA seasons.
