Advertisement - scroll for more content
Once I realized the significance of March 13, 1975, I couldn't resist reaching out to Marv for his recollections on how such a massive NBA news story crossed his desk. Albert explained that he was attending a luncheon at Madison Square Garden when he crossed paths when then-MSG president Michael Burke, who stunningly revealed that the Knicks were trying to assemble a trade for Abdul-Jabbar. Kareem had informed the Bucks at the start of the 1974-75 season that he wanted a trade to New York or L.A., but the parties agreed to keep the trade request quiet to give the Bucks some time to explore the marketplace and put a deal together.
"He was always a good guy to talk to," Albert said in our phone chat of Burke, who was previously president and CEO of the New York Yankees before moving into a similar role with MSG and the Knicks. "But he surprised me by saying: 'You know … we're trying to get Kareem.' " Burke surprised Albert again when the Knicks' radio voice asked him: "Can I use this on the air?" Invited to do so, Albert proceeded to break the story on WNBC-TV's 6 PM broadcast as the station's sports anchor, then discussed it further on the Knicks' radio pregame show that night as well as during a home victory over Portland.
“Luckily, I’ve got a very smart wife who’s right with me as we take a look at what’s out there. And we’ll hopefully have decisions to make. But right now, I’m with TNT, and I’ve got a full schedule of games right through the Eastern Conference Finals. We’ll look forward to that and try to finish strong, for a company that’s held the rights to the NBA for almost four decades. And I’ve been there, this is my 30th year at TNT doing games. And when I got there, I worked with Dick Stockton and Verne Lundquist, and then I was a teammate with Marv Albert. So I’ve worked with legends in this business. And there’s not a day that goes by that I haven’t felt incredibly grateful for the chance they took on me to join that group in 1996.”
Can the Knicks win this series? Marv Albert: I think if Julius Randle can come back and be somewhat like when he was uninjured … that’s the question mark there, and the question mark with Miami is do they have enough? Because Tyler Herro was such a key guy. It’s a well-coached team like the Knicks. It’s one of these toss-up series, it should be a great series. It will be aggressive, there’s no question. I don’t think we’re gonna see astronomical high-scoring games.
When does your comeback begin? Marv Albert: (Laugh) I miss it when I’m watching a great game, and during the playoffs … but, I think 55 years of doing NBA is a very long time, and I was fortunate to be able to do radio and TV, and always felt that the best play-by-play announcers did a great deal of radio before TV. … My wife Heather and I are I’m living a good life, put it that way.
Advertisement
You made an appearance on a “Ted Lasso” episode. Marv Albert: They called me because they wanted to me to voice over a Lakers-Bulls game, a couple of segments of ’91 in the Finals. I had to talk about Chicago’s Triangle offense. And the lead character Ted Lasso, a very likeable guy, is in a pizza place in Amsterdam, and he’s watching the game, and it gives him the idea of bringing the concept of the Triangle offense to soccer. He’s a coach who has no idea about soccer, he’s coaching this team. … It’s one of the things I’ve been doing now, along with being Mr. Binge TV … working out four, five days a week with a wonderful trainer one day, and watching a lot of NBA, Mets, Yankees, NHL and a lot of reading. And also trying to check out my son Kenny on his hectic schedule of NHL, NBA, etcetera.
Legendary voice of the Knicks Marv Albert knew — knew that Willis Reed would show up for that triumphant Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Lakers at the Garden even with his torn thigh muscle. “I was in the trainer’s room with him when he got the shot,” Albert told The Post on Tuesday, referring to Reed who passed away at age 80. “I did a pregame radio interview with him. He said, ‘I’m gonna play tonight.’ “So I went to the broadcast booth, and he’s not out on the court when they’re warming up, I heard a roar, and I looked down, and it’s Willis limping his way on the court and the Lakers at the other end, led by [Wilt] Chamberlain and [Jerry] West have this look on their face like they cannot believe it. It was like, ‘What is going on?’
“Then they announce the lineups, and he starts, and pretty quickly he hits a jumper — that was a ‘YES!’ I believe — and the crowd goes crazy. Minutes later he hits another one from the other side. And that’s all he did in that game. It overshadowed one of the greatest games ever played by a point guard [Walt Frazier] in the playoffs.”
The Timberwolves veteran — who played for the Los Angeles Clippers for four seasons before heading to Minnesota — insisted to JJ Redick on ESPN that the Lakers’ 2020 title deserves an asterisk and that it’s a “Bubble Championship.” Here’s Beverley making his case. Kevin Harlan will sit in a chair courtside Wednesday night that, he feels, does not belong to him. It's the same way he felt at the All-Star Game in February. “I may be broadcasting this game tonight," Harlan texted Marv Albert that night. "But this will always be your seat. This will always be your chair.” Harlan is Turner Sports' replacement for Albert as the play-by-play voice of the conference finals. He'll be joined by Hall of Fame player Reggie Miller and ex-coach Stan Van Gundy as the Dallas Mavericks face the Golden State Warriors in the opening game of the Western Conference finals.
Having retired from broadcasting after last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Albert, 80, plans to be there in Springfield for Clyde – COVID-19 willing. Albert and Frazier were an MSG Network team from 2000 to 2004. “He has evolved into a Hall-of-Famer as a color commentator,’’ Albert told The Post. “He’s become first-rate broadcaster, extremely popular. And much of his audience never saw him play when you think about it. “Clyde is so personable with fans. It’s the same way he was – those personality traits – as a player, always with a big smile and talking with fans.’’
Advertisement
With his new leisure time, Albert has started working out with a trainer, viewed a ton of Yankees and Mets games and says “I’ve become ‘Mr. Binge TV.’’’ Since 1968, Albert has called NBA playoff games annually and now the playoffs miss Albert. However, he has kept his hand in it, working on a few TNT projects that will air later in the playoffs and during next year’s All-Star Weekend. “You miss it, especially in the playoffs where there’s been so many real good games,’’ Albert said. “I miss the people I worked with, the preparation. After a broadcast it’s a great feeling when it all comes together. Or it’s an annoying feeling if you feel if it’s so-so.
In the post-Marv Albert NBA era, Turner Sports is turning to Charles Barkley as its headliner for its All-Star Game coverage, The Post has learned. Barkley will join Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller as TNT’s team for the play-by-play of the game, according to sources. Barkley will remain a part of TNT’s studio coverage for the event, as well.
Now, in 2021, Albert is without a game. At the end of last season, the legendary voice of the NBA retired after 55 years calling sports. And he has a life. “I’m happy,” Albert told The Post. As the NBA opened on Tuesday night, Albert was not courtside. Instead he was flipping between his old network, TNT, while keeping a close eye on the MLB playoffs. “It reminds me of when I was a kid, though, we didn’t have as many sports available on TV,” said the now 80-year-old Albert, who grew up in Brooklyn. “I was flashing back and forth between the baseball and the basketball.”
Marv Albert once wrote a book with Rick Reilly called, “I’d Love To, But I Have a Game: 27 Years Without a Life.” That was 1993. Now, in 2021, Albert is without a game. At the end of last season, the legendary voice of the NBA retired after 55 years calling sports. And he has a life. “I’m happy,” Albert told The Post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement