Back in 2016, before the Golden State Warriors became the unquestioned gold standard of the NBA (no pun intended), Steph Curry and Co. had some crucial business to take care of.
In what would be a preview of a memorable Western Conference Finals series, the Warriors were locked in a regular-season dead heat with Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Rather than let this clash of the titans head to a second overtime, Curry (who made 12 threes while scoring 46 incredible points) pulled up from 32 feet at the end of the first extra stanza and buried an unbelievable shot for the 121-118 win.
What amplified the amazing shot was the reaction of ESPN/ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. Known for his trademark “BANG” call after big shots, Breen unleashed not one but two jubilant screams of “BANG” while seemingly barely containing himself at what Curry pulled off.
Breen’s call turned an already-legendary moment for the greatest shooter of all time into one of the most iconic plays in NBA history. As such, with the seventh anniversary of the play on the horizon (Feb. 28), Curry honored the announcer by gifting him some custom shoes, aptly named the “Curry 2 Bang Bang PE Retro.”
Curry’s ridiculous shooting and Breen’s joy for basketball: a match made in heaven.
7 years to the day… a moment I'll never forget. It's only right the 👑 of the "Baaang Baaang!!" got the first pair!! Mike Breen, thanks for everything you've done for our amazing game. We had to bring these back for y'all 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/FMdCWXtj4z
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) February 25, 2023
At the time of this shot, we understood Curry was different.
He and the rest of the Warriors’ young core — featuring Draymond Green and Klay Thompson — had already turned Golden State into a powerhouse. After all, this was the year the team won a record 73 games in the regular season.
But this shot, this moment captured perfectly by Breen’s unique enthusiasm, might have helped catapult the Warriors into “iconic” territory. It’s only fair and touching that Curry would commemorate Breen’s evident love for basketball with this fantastic gift.
