Mike Breen: 'I Would Have Voted For LeBron' For Finals MVP
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In 1969, Jerry West was named the NBA Finals MVP in a losing effort. That was 46 years ago and the last time it happened.
If anyone was going to do it again, it would have been LeBron James in 2015.
"If I had a vote, and I did not, I would have voted for LeBron for the [Finals] MVP," NBA Finals TV play-by-play announcer Mike Breen told the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show on Wednesday.
Listen: Mike Breen on the 94WIP Mike & Ike Show
Despite the Cavaliers' loss to the Warriors, James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game in the 2015 NBA Finals. James was the first player ever to lead both teams in all three of those categories and received four of the 11 series MVP votes, with the other seven going to the winner---Andre Iguodala.
"I mean again, historic numbers and in all my years doing the NBA, I don't think I've ever seen a player who is as more valuable to his team as LeBron James was to this Cavs team at this particular time without other key players," Breen said. "I've never seen a player just, 'Hop on my back and let's go,' the way he did it."
Do we take for granted what James is doing on the court?
"There's a handful of players that are currently in the league," Breen said. "Obviously LeBron, I'd put Tim Duncan. Probably put Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant in it as well. Where we have taken for granted their excellence night in and night out. To have to do that for your team every single night, that's what separates the great players from you know, the all-stars and the good players."
Now, with the attention shifting to Thursday night's NBA Draft, will the Warriors' "small ball" philosophy effect the type of player teams target as the league continues to develop?
"It's an interesting dilemma for GM's," said Breen. "It's a great point because the game has certainly changed and now you want your big men to be able to, not only step out and space the floor and be able to hit shots especially a power forward, but now you have to have players who can go out and guard on the perimeter.
"So the game has changed. It all depends on what you want to run. Tomorrow is one of the fun days in the NBA because it is the day of hope."
