Do you remember your first gut reaction?

Yes.

And by the way, his father, Rick, the assistant coach, he never thought that Jalen would be this good.

But we watched, when I was doing games, when he was playing in Dallas, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were my partners at the time.

And we did a whole bunch of Dallas games.

And Luka Doncic, who was still with Dallas at the time, he got hurt in that series.

Jalen started, and he was the man for about three games.

But talk to me a little bit about your relationship with Clyde and some things we may or may not know.

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him and I would see him at different arenas.

It's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, you know, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

What have you noticed about him? And did you see, and we ask everybody this, did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him and I would see him at different arenas.

It's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, you know, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him, and I would see him at different arenas.

And it's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

What have you noticed about him? And did you see, and we ask everybody this, did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Did you get emotional?

Um, I did after, after we finished the call and laid out, um, because the game...

And that's, it's actually helpful as a broadcaster, and we all live for these kind of games.

The game was so close and went down to the final second, so you still had to concentrate, and there were still many big shots, and the Spurs were still capable of winning.

Um, so that keeps your mind on what you have to do.

Um, but no, I, it's...

You know, I'd, I'd be lying if I said it, it didn't mean something to me.

How, how hard is it to, for f- uh, for you... 'Cause you're call- you're just calling the game, but then you, uh, how hard is it to, to bring different people in and to, to get that c- get, get that kind of chemistry going with, uh, with, with, with your, um, booth mates?

I know it was a close game, so you didn't have as much time to maybe think about it as you would've if it was, like, the, the 40-point routes in the prior couple rounds, but what, uh, what was the final minute or so in the aftermath of Game 5 like for you after waiting for a long time to do that?

Yeah, Tim, the, the beauty of it was, and I'm so glad it happened this way, is that you didn't have any time.

It wasn't until the final possession, until the free throws made it out of reach.

Um, so you're just concentrating on the job, and that was important to me to, to do it that way.

Um, and plus, you owe it to the people who work with you, um, your analysts, your producers, your directors, all the people that work.

You've gotta stay professional through it.

Um, so I didn't get much of a chance, uh, to think too much, which was a good thing.

But when did you actually look at this team and think this team had a real chance to win a championship this season? Because it wasn't in January.

I know it was a close game, so you didn't have as much time to maybe think about it as you would've if it was, like, the, the 40-point routes in the prior couple rounds, but what, uh, what was the final minute or so in the aftermath of game five like for you after waiting for a long time to do that?

Yeah, Tim, the, the beauty of it was, and I'm so glad it happened this way, is that you didn't have any time.

It wasn't until the final possession, till the free throws made it out of reach.

Um, so you're just concentrating on the job, and that was important to me to, to do it that way.

Um, and plus you owe it to the people who work with you, um, your analysts, your producers, your directors, all the people that work.

You've gotta stay professional through it.

Um, so I didn't get much of a chance, uh, to think too much, which was a good thing.

His combination of mental toughness, even keel, and killer instinct is

Is that challenging to still focus on what is in front of you because you have to call the action, but yet there is a larger subtext that everybody's thinking about amid the action?

Yes, but it's especially challenging when you have your first one of those games.

I can imagine the first time I called a great comeback.

And there's no better scenario for a broadcaster to have this massive comeback by the home team.

It's just the whole crowd.

It's almost like perfect television.

But I'm sure the first several times that I called one of those comebacks, I'd be so hyperventilating and not do it justice.

And I

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him, and I would see him at different arenas.

And it's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, you know, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

What have you noticed about him? And did you see, and we ask everybody this, did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him, and I would see him at different arenas.

And it's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, you know, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

What have you noticed about him? And did you see, and we ask everybody this, did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Was there anything about him, not where you would have said, this guy's different, but that you look back on and go, yeah, there was something about him that I just thought he might be the guy?

I knew him when he was an agent.

That's when I first met him and I would see him at different arenas.

It's interesting you say that, Craig, because the thing I remember most about it is when you had a talk with him, he seemed really interested in what you had to say.

He seemed interested in your opinion.

And that struck me.

I'm this, you know, at the time, fairly young broadcaster and meeting a guy who's got connections to all top players.

What have you noticed about him? And did you see, and we ask everybody this, did you have any inclination that he would be the type of player to resurrect a franchise that none of us thought could be resurrected?

Did you get emotional?

Um, I did after, after we finished the call and laid out, um, because the game...

And that's, it's actually helpful as a broadcaster, and we all live for these kind of games.

The game was so close and went down to the final second, so you still had to concentrate, and there were still many big shots, and the Spurs were still capable of winning.

Um, so that keeps your mind on what you have to do.

Um, but you know, I, it's...

You know, I'd, I'd be lying if I said it, it didn't mean something to me.

Uh, how hard is it to, to bring different people in and to, to get that g- ge- get that kind of chemistry going with, uh, with, with, with your, um, booth mates?

How would you assess how you guys did in the playoffs here and in the finals?

I'm so proud of them.

When they first started this year, they knew each other, obviously, and were cordial, but they weren't what I would call best buds.

They have become such great friends, and they've helped each other.

They each have different strengths.

And what I think that, for example, legs, SXs and Os, and his strategy stuff is off the charts.

Meanwhile, Richard looks at it from an emotional standpoint, a teammate standpoint, locker room feel standpoint, coach-player relationship standpoint.

What's the most memorable?

What has the last couple of days been like for you, Mike?

It's been a whirlwind, Jay.

Been doing a lot of interviews and talking to people who just want to revel in what happened.

And for New York City, and this is my first thought, it's such a wonderful thing for the city, which has always been a basketball city.

It's a wonderful thing for the Knicks fans who have endured many rough seasons prior to the arrival of Jalen Brunson.

And to see everybody, all anybody wants to talk about is the Knicks.

It's crazy, man.

Was it hard for you not to let your fandom come all the way through? And did you have to talk to yourself or was it just natural how you came with it?

Can you tell us what that conversation was like?

Yeah.

I was, I was so touched by it.

Um, we've become friends and, you know him well.

He's just this ...

In addition to being a, um, a Mount Rushmore announcer, he's just such a great guy.

And he, he said that.

when the Knicks won? Any- anything that goes through your mind?

on on sunday and you know to your point mike green by the way our has joined us here our radio audience has just returned the word fan is the root for the word fanatic you know like that is it that's that's what we're describing here and you've had a front row seat quite literally for all of these years um what do you think this championship for the knicks means

It's one of the great, great moments in New York sports history for a number of reasons.

First and foremost, New York has always been a basketball town.

I mean, I've lived in New York my whole life, and we all love football, we all love basketball.

I'm not saying one's more important than the other in terms of the fans, but there's just something about the city game being basketball.

So that's number one.

Number two, it's a team that pretty much the entire city gets behind.

But I'm wondering, who are you thinking about from your early days on a day like today? Who are you, you know, reminiscing with or thinking about,

I, I, I didn't think the Knicks had a chance.

Well, first, first at, at, uh, halftime, I remember talking to, uh, to Legs, Tim Legler, and RJ, Richard Jefferson, and I said, "All right, guys, we're, we're gonna probably have to go into storytelling and, and some other issues.

So, um, you know, let's, let's keep going, and we'll figure out stuff to do," 'cause I didn't think so.

I think it was about midway through the second quarter when, um, they went...

They were down by 25, and I said it with even a chuckle.

I said, "Well, for those who are interested, the largest comeback in an NBA Finals game," and I said, said that not really believing it was gonna happen.

Not because you can't come from behind in, in the NBA today.

[laughs]

But like if you watch one basketball series a year and it's the NBA finals, like you may have heard of this guy, or someone at your workplace is like, "You, you should watch this 7'4" guy who plays like a guard." Are you with us in the sense that like there, it, there is something unique or unicorn-ish about Wembanyama being in the finals and the attractiveness that he singularly creates for this series?

Right.

Well, unique is the word.

Um, we've never seen anybody like him.

Uh, we've seen different variations that have some of his skills, maybe his height, but not everything, not the complete package that he is.

Um, and the scary thing is he is so far from a finished product.

Um, this his third year and, and he's in the finals, and this is his playoff debut, and he's already learned so much in these rounds that he's, you can't say he's a p- a rookie in the playoffs anymore.

Right

Um, I'm curious to know, 'cause you've seen so much Knicks basketball over the years, and we talked about this a little bit on, on this show, uh, last week, but i- if the Knicks do win a championship, where does that put Jalen Brunson in terms of all-time Knicks for you?

Um, he's in the conversation as one of the greats.

Can I put him ahead of Clyde or Patrick Ewing? I, I think that might be early, even though he wins a title.

But when you look at it, all right, 53 years, say they win it, 53 years and he's the one that leads them to a title.

Not only that, but when he arrived, they were on s- one of the darkest stretches that the franchise has ever been on.

They were one of the worst teams in NBA, and he's the number one reason why he's changed the direction and perception of the franchise.

So it's not just winning a title, it's where, where he started and where he brought them to.

[laughs]

Mm

... national television.

That, those dreams are, they're- they're too big.

I had no idea.

I mean, I- I dreamt of being the Knick radio, uh, play-by-play voice.

That's what I dreamed of when I was in college, starting to- to get into this.

Uh, so the thought of broadcasting a championship, uh, the way Marv did back in '70 and '73, that- that was the dream.

Yeah

Do he, do you even think about this when you're calling the game? Is it even in your head, or is it just a totally separate, like Mike Breen is over here somewhere else?

No, yeah, uh, you, you, you make sure you wanna focus on being, um, straight down the middle on it.

And, and because I watched Marv growing up and worked for NBC during those '90s and he called so many big Knick games on the playoffs against Chicago, against Indiana, um, you know, he, he showed me and he showed a lot of people how to do it.

And, you know, I, I learned from Marv in terms of that.

And I did some of those...

I remember calling a Reggie, uh, three-pointer to win a playoff game at the Garden and screaming my fool head off.

That's the job, and you have to do it that way.

Well, Jordan Clarkson, he's, he's taking some, he's taking some toughies tonight." Has, have you talked to him about this? 'Cause I, I, knowing him a little bit, he's come on my podcast before, I think he would actually think it was funny.

Not wrong, because you called it very well given what the situation was.

Uh, yes, it has.

Uh, I think I got the B and the A out last night.

Uh, couple of times I've had the B, the A, and the N.

Uh, so yes, no, it has.

Um, I mean, [laughs] honestly, Dan, I make, I make mistakes every game.

If you're looking for the perfect call, I'm not your guy.

[laughs]

It

doesn't make any sense.

And they have every right.

You know, there's a I don't know if guys have ever seen it.

You know, the great baseball writer, Roger Angel.

He wrote an essay about what it means being a fan.

And and.

What do you remember most about when they paired you two together back in 1999? Well, first off,

Is it tough to be down the middle in these games now that you're going to do? The entire country will be watching.

It really isn't.

And I'm not just saying that.

It's I've done quite a few of them over the years.

And as you know, when, when you're concentrating on, on the game and you've got so many things to do during the course of a game interaction with your analysts interaction with your producer and director, uh, the statistician watching the game, making the calls, you don't really have time.

You just kind of react, um, to what's happening on there.

And, you know, again, it's, it's, um, It's something I've done over a long period of time.

Are they playing 3-D chess while we're analyzing checkers? Because I wonder, did they keep the cat running the offense through him in their back pocket all year and said, we'll unleash it when we need it in the postseason, or was that just done out of desperation?

Yes.

He, he wrote an essay about what it means being a fan and, and, um, and how the caring factor, the factor of really caring so, so strongly about something, even though it, it makes no sense how much you care about a, a ball going in a basket, or in this case when he's talking about baseball, somebody hitting a ball over a, a fence.

Um, look it up and read it.

I, I'll never do it justice by talking about it.

It's, it's one of the most beautiful things ever written about being a fan.

And, uh, to me, that's, that's one of the highlights of doing the finals and doing the playoffs every year is how crazy the fan base loves their team, how much they care about their team and care about the players on that team.

You know, somebody wrote a great line, um, during the pandemic when there were no fans, and it just seemed odd to be calling games when there was no fan noise.

What do you remember most about when they paired you two together back in 1999?