ESPN play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fake Mike Breen rumor duped multiple ESPN reporters

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 3:54 PM ET

An X account spreading a fake rumor about ESPN’s Mike Breen managed to fool multiple reporters on Wednesday.

The account, posting under the handle @ScamCharnia, claimed Breen was retiring from his duties as ESPN’s top NBA announcer. The claim was fake, and Breen is not actually retiring.

That did not stop two high-profile ESPN reporters, Ramona Shelburne and Marc J. Spears, from reporting the claim, indicating that they thought the post came from the actual Shams Charania.

Spears congratulated Breen on a great career, while Shelburne paid tribute with a “triple-bang.” Both quickly deleted their posts upon realizing that the account was fake.

ENHANCE: pic.twitter.com/zIz9Bw8T3q
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 2, 2025

Shelburne and Spears are hardly the first to be duped by a fake social media post. However, it is a bit more embarrassing that they were fooled by a false story about someone who is fundamentally their colleague.

Breen, by all accounts, will be back for another season as ESPN’s top NBA play-by-play voice next season. There may be some changes to who he calls games with, though.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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