Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were ‘dream partners’ says their ESPN co-anchor Mike Breen after the long-time NBA announcers were laid off: ‘It’s sad because we had something special’

Award-winning NBA announcer Mike Breen is still reeling from news that his long-time broadcast partners Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy have been fired amid ESPN’s mass layoffs.

‘It’s sad because we really thought we had something special and … we were able to do it a lot longer than anybody ever did,’ Breen told The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand after working 15 NBA Finals with Van Gundy and Jackson. ‘It’s something we’ll all treasure, but we just wish it was a little bit longer.

‘You don’t expect it, because it was such a great team and to have it completely broken up was a surprise.’

Van Gundy was let go in late June, while Jackson was fired Monday as ESPN continues to shed payroll. Other on-air hosts who have been laid off this summer include Jalen Rose, Suzy Kolber, Max Kellerman and Keyshawn Johnson.

But no move has garnered as much attention as ESPN’s decision to break up its popular announcing trio of Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy, who began working together in 2006.

ESPN’s Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mike Breen pose before Game 4 of the 2022 Finals

Jackson (left) and Van Gundy (right) have both been let go by ESPN amid network layoffs

The three have actually known each other since the 1990s, when Van Gundy was coaching with the Knicks, Jackson had a pair of stints with the team, and Breen was handling radio play-by-play duties for New York.

Breen, a Hall of Fame announcer, credits Jackson and Van Gundy for helping him understand basketball at a deeper level and for being versatile broadcasters.

‘They were the dream partners,’ Breen told The Post. ‘All the accomplishments were because of what we did together. I really do feel personally any success I had was because I had those two guys next to me. They just provided everything you would want in analysts. They’re smart. They’re funny. They’re knowledgeable about their sport. They’re opinionated. They love their sport, but are not afraid to criticize. They just had a little bit of everything.’

Breen also opened up about the personal toll the firings have had on him, saying he had an inkling the 2023 NBA Finals would be their last together.

‘The other part of it is the personal part, and that’s tougher,’ Breen continued. ‘Now, we’re going to be friends until the day we die. Those guys taught me so much about what I know about the NBA. I’ve learned more from those two than anybody. But they’ve also taught me about stuff that has nothing to do with basketball. I look up to both of them because not just their talents as broadcasters, but the kind of men they are. I just feel so privileged to have that time.

‘I’ve always said that I’m so honored to call the Finals every year, but what made it so special for me is I got to call it with those two and seeing it come to an end, it’s hard to come to grips with.’

Doris Burke & Doc Rivers are reportedly set to be the lead co-analysts for ESPN’s NBA coverage

Jason Whitlock (L) ripped the reported promotion of Doris Burke after Mark Jackson was let go

Marchand and others have reported that ESPN is expected to promote color commentator Doris Burke to the network’s top NBA booth alongside Breen and Doc Rivers, the long-time player and coach who was recently fired by the Philadelphia 76ers.

That reported decision has drawn the ire of BlazeTV host and former ESPN personality, Jason Whitlock.

‘I absolutely love Doris Burke, I think she does a really good job – but she is not qualified to be the number one broadcaster on the NBA,’ Whitlock said on Fearless. ‘You’re replacing an All-Star NBA player [and] a head coach who mattered in the league for many years. They had great chemistry, they were willing to criticize people during the game, during the broadcast.

‘All of that is out the window. You place a woman in this spot – Doris Burke is good, but if you think she’s woman enough to criticize these multimillionaire NBA players and coaches, it’s not gonna happen.’