Mike Breen’s Long Island home is completely destroyed by huge blaze

Mike Breen’s home in Long Island has been completely destroyed by a monumental fire, and the lead NBA and New York Knicks play-by-play announcer has ‘lost all of his belongings’. 

The Manhasset-Lakesville Fire Department shared on Instagram that its personnel ‘encountered a fully involved house fire’ after arriving on scene at approximately 4.03am in the early hours of Sunday morning. 

Breen, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year, and his family were not thought to be at the burning home despite losing nearly all of their possessions.

The fire comes less than a month before the announcer is expected to provide commentary for ESPN’s first broadcast of the new season between the New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies.

Mike Breen’s family home, which he shares with his three children and wife, in Long Island has been destroyed by a huge fire

Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department responding to the fire after being notified by house alarms and neighbors in the area 

Mike Breen, 61, has been the lead NBA play-by-play broadcaster at ABC/ESPN since 2006 and is also an official member of the Naismith Hall of Fame since last year

Sunday’s fire engulfed most of the Breen residence, as firefighters attempted to put out the blaze in the garage area

While the fire spread through the Breen’s property, smoke and flames were seen rising up in an orange/red sky on Sunday

Firefighters were first alerted to the blaze by Breen’s neighbors and house alarms located inside the home went off. Officials didn’t not leave the property until 2.07 pm, as they stayed for almost 10 hours on site, according to USA Today.

No cause related to the incident has been released as an investigation started by local officials continues. 

‘Numerous hand lines, as well as two ladder pipes and a deck gun, were used to battle the fire. The @nassaufiremarshal Responded with their drone to assist in locating hotspots,’ Manhasset-Lakeville F.D. shared on social media. 

Breen has been ABC’s lead play-by-play announcer for the NBA Finals since 2006 and was formerly a game commentator for the New York Giants’ preseason games. He has also been commenting on Knicks games for MSG Network since 1992.

He is well known to sports fan for shouting ‘BANG!’ after clutch plays during games, noticeably when Kobe Bryant hit the game winner for the LA Lakers against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs in 2006. He is also famous for being the play-by-play announcer for the San Antonio Spurs-Miami Heat 2013 NBA Finals and the Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors 2016 NBA finals.   

The 61-year-old worked out of his Long Island home during the COVID-19 pandemic, as protocols at the time did not allow announcers to be at stadiums, according to Bleacher Report.  

The fire caused the Breen family to lose nearly all of their possessions ahead of the start of the new NBA season

No members of the Breen family were hurt in the massive blaze, and it is believed that no one was at the home during the fire

Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department used ladders and powerful water hoses to gain access to several parts of the home

‘Mike is a cherished member of the ESPN family and he knows he has our full support through this excruciating circumstance,’ ESPN, which is ABC’s parent company, said in a statement. 

‘We know the damage is devastating, and at the same time, we are grateful that he and his family are safe.’ 

Breen is set to embark on his 30th season as an NBA broadcaster since being hired 16 years ago to replace Al McDaniels for ESPN/ABC. He will be joined by Mark Jackson, Doris Burke, Jeff Van Gundy and other broadcasters.