Marv Albert’s career began at Madison Square Garden, where he served as the Knicks’ play-by-play voice for 37 years. With Albert headed for retirement after the season, Wednesday’s trip to the Big Apple for Game 5 between the Knicks and visiting Atlanta Hawks may very well be the 79-year-old’s final assignment at the hoops Mecca. The veteran announcer will be joined in the broadcast booth by Reggie Miller (who also has a history with MSG) for Wednesday’s 7:30 PM ET tip on TNT.
Albert’s retirement plans were revealed last month, ending his 22-year run at TNT. The Knicks trail their best-of-seven series with Atlanta three games to one, needing to win Games 5-7 to preserve their season. TNT announcers have spent the pandemic working remotely, but with venues beginning to loosen COVID restrictions (most arenas are back operating at full capacity), Albert and Miller will cover games in person for the remainder of the playoffs. With New York on the brink of elimination, Wednesday may be Albert’s final opportunity to call the team that defined his career, cementing his place in America’s sports broadcasting hierarchy.
The 1997 Curt Gowdy Award recipient leaves behind a complicated legacy—had it happened in the post-Me-Too climate, it’s unlikely Albert’s career would have survived the explosive, sexual assault scandal that prompted his departure from NBC (only for him to return two years later). Controversy aside, Albert has been synonymous with New York sports for the better part of five decades, recognized for his many catchphrases (“Yes!” being the most prominent among them) and his extensive body of work covering area teams including the Knicks, Rangers, Nets and Giants.
Will Wednesday night serve as Albert’s MSG sendoff or will the Knicks live to see another day? FanDuel Sportsbook is leaning toward the latter, installing the Knicks as 1.5-point home favorites over Atlanta.
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