Mike Breen on LeBron James’ possible final MSG game: ‘You just never know’

LeBron James always has referred to Madison Square Garden as his favorite road venue, but any visit to New York — now that he’s in his 40s — could be the four-time MVP’s final time in uniform at the World’s Most Famous Arena. 

Then again … 

“The way he’s going, I think we’ll be having this conversation in 2032 and 2033 as he gets to 47, 48,” longtime Knicks announcer Mike Breen, who will call Saturday’s game between the Knicks and the Lakers for ABC and ESPN, told The Post. “It’s worth mentioning on the broadcast, certainly, because there is that possibility, but because there’s no definitive retirement date yet for him, thankfully, it can’t be a major focus on the game. 

“Will we be seeing him again here? Is the crowd responding to him because they think it might be the last time? You just never know. So it definitely has to be a thought coming in because of what he’s meant to the league, and certainly the Garden has always been his favorite road arena. So it will be discussed, but not overblown, because I still have a feeling he’s going to be playing a few more years with what he’s doing right now.” 

James’ 20-year-old son Bronny was drafted in the second round by the Lakers in 2024, and he has appeared in 14 NBA games this season for his father’s team while also spending time with their G League affiliate. 

The 40-year-old James has not disclosed any plans to retire, but Breen believes the 21st-time All-Star — now a stand-alone NBA record — should hold a farewell tour once he makes that decision. 

“I hope he does, because for what he’s done for the game, I think fans around the country, even the people who’ve enjoyed booing him over the years, would love to give him a standing ovation,” Breen said. “Because he deserves that at every arena he’s played in. The player deserves it and the fans deserve a chance to say thank you, as well.” 

James, the league’s all-time scoring leader and a five-time NBA champion, has been a marvel in leading the Lakers to a 27-19 record this season — fifth in the West — with averages of 23.8 points, 9.0 assists and 7.5 rebounds in 34.6 minutes per game. 

“We are seeing something we will never see again. There’s no way we will ever see this again,” Breen said. “Look at what the guy’s done for his whole career, the sustained excellence, but to continue to do it at this point in his career, is incredible. 

“I said this on the air last week when we did a Lakers game in San Francisco against the Warriors, but the year he’s having this season at age 40 in his 22nd year in the league is better than the career years of many Hall of Fame players. And I think for some reason, people still like to hate him, and I just don’t get it. Because he’s always stood for winning first, and I just don’t get that. But I’d think that even the most hardened critics have to admit what he’s doing is just truly remarkable.” 

Breen said his favorite memory of LeBron at MSG was his 52-point performance for Cleveland in February 2009, two days after Kobe Bryant had dropped a Garden record 61 for the Lakers. 

“The Garden already was abuzz and now LeBron comes in, and we thought, ‘How does he top that?’ Not that he topped it, but he came pretty damn close,” the Hall of Fame play-by-play man recalled. “I think he had half the team’s points, or close to it. No one was scoring 125 in those days, and for him to come in and do that after what Kobe did, that was pretty incredible. For me that was the one I remember the most.” 

Even if it turns out not to be James’ final visit, Breen expects the Garden to be buzzing again Saturday night with the Knicks (32-16) riding a five-game winning streak, including three straight against formidable West opponents Sacramento, Memphis and Denver. 

“I didn’t call the Kings game, but the latter two were among the loudest January regular-season games I can recall doing,” Breen said. “For the Garden to sound like that, it sounded like a Game 7 of a playoff series. 

“I thought the atmosphere was off the charts, and I think a big part of it was because the defense was the key to it all. That was the question going into the season and for much of the season, how good can their defense be? Well, it’s been terrific the last few games. To see the defense start to catch up to the offense, that has the crowds dreaming big things.”