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The 2022 NBA Finals are underway, with the Boston Celtics leading the series 1-0 over the Golden State Warriors. It was a must-watch, rollercoaster game from start to finish, and Mark Jones was lucky enough to get the call.
He tweeted his emotions following the game, calling the experience “a dream come to fruition.”
Man..36 hrs before Game 1 of @NBA Finals in San Francisco I was taking my dog to the vet in Miami. Then..a call.
Tonight was a dream come to fruition. To sit in for Hall of Fame Mike Breen and to call an NBA Finals game with the most talented production crew is awesome.🙏🏽🏀
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) June 3, 2022
As Jones explained, he didn't originally expect to be a part of the NBA Finals broadcast team. Mike Breen was slated to do play-by-play alongside analyst Mark Jackson and sideline reporter Lisa Salters.
However, Breen was unable to pass COVID-19 protocols in time, putting Jones in a fantastic position less than two days before Game 1.
Not only did Jones get to call an outstanding game, but he also made history. Himself, Jackson, and Salters became the first all-Black broadcast team for the NBA Finals in television history.
This isn't the first time Jones got the nod in place of Breen. Ahead of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Breen tested positive for COVID-19. Jones took his place, calling the Celtics' final win over the Miami Heat.
Breen isn't the only one who missed Game 1. ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski and lead NBA game analyst Jeff Van Gundy also missed the start of the NBA Finals due to COVID.
The ESPN media team is dealing with a decent amount of COVID-19 cases. However, the two teams in the NBA Finals seem to be relatively healthy. Both teams had all hands on deck for Game 1, and appear healthy heading into Game 2. In other words, this championship either team's to win.
