Marv Albert's 15 Greatest Play-by-Play Calls

Image via Complex Original

Game: Game 1, 2011 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/15/2011
In this clip Taj Gibson gets funky on 'em and Albert can't hold it in. This one made Average Joes feel like they could be on top ten too. That brings the score to Taj Gibson: 1, and Dwyane Wade: 2,073,915.

Game: Game 3, 2011 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/22/2011
D-Rose was so good Marv lost his train of thought mid sentence and started talking about him carving up the D. It wasn't quite the on-air orgasm style of Stacy King but it was a classic call nonetheless.

Game: Game 5, 2007 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/31/2007
It's not very often that you see one man defeat a team of five but on this night Bron Bron proved he could! Marv was there to provide all of his signature calls as LeBron dominated the Pistons in the fourth and OT. Fun fact: LeBron dropped 48 and the Cavs won by two. #nowonderheleft

Game: Game 7, 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Date: 5/21/1995
This play still haunts Knicks fans and Marv Albert was the perfect man to give the world the run down. The missed lay-up was the end of an era for Patrick Ewing and his cohorts. We have a feeling this wasn't the first time Marv witnessed a rim job that ended with an unhappy ending. We know how you get down, fam.

Game: Regular Season Game
Date: 2/18/2003
It's not everyday you see a 7'5" guy get dunked on, and Marv propped right up when Kobe sonned Yao Ming on an ill one-hander. He wasn't Shawn Bradley, but Yao had his fair share of embarrassing plays, and we all know Kobe loves to get at a good big man. Ayo! Word to Dwight. Sidebar: The Black Mamba dropped 52 points in this game and it came in the midst of his nine-game streak where he scored 40+ points in each outing.

Game: Game 3, 1991 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
Date: 4/30/1991
You know it's bad when the commentators end the clip laughing at you. Sorry Ewing, Pippen got you too.

Game: Game 2, 2009 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/22/2009
LeBron James isn't MJ or Kobe doesn't have many game-winners so we don't mind Marv jumping out his seat with his response on this one. Something tells us he might have peed a little. #ithappens

Game: Game 3, 1999 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 6/5/1999
Everybody was kind of surprised when Larry Johnson got the ball on this one, but Albert smoothly called one of the biggest moments in recent Knicks history as it sparked their Finals run. Shout-out to Chris Childs for doing his point guard duty and making sure Grandmama didn't get too hyped before the free throw.

Game: Game 5, 1997 NBA Finals
Date: 6/11/1997
"Not bad for a guy with flu symptoms."  There was nothing stopping MJ that night. You notice how there was no puking on the bench or calling for a wheelchair either. '90s NBA >>>

Game: Regular Season Game
Date: 12/9/2004
Even Marv was surprised to see this go down, this was like an epic NBA 2K glitch. If only T-Mac didn't have a bad back and knees of tissue paper, dude could have been higher on this list.

Game: Game 2, 1993 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 5/25/1993
This was one of the illest playoff dunks ever. Knicks fans got a little revenge on MJ and the Bulls and Albert gave them big ups for it. "Pause" when his co-commentator has a moment at 0:50. C'mon son, you gotta keep it together when you're on the job.

Game: Game 2, 1991 NBA Finals Lakers vs. Bulls
Date: 6/5/1991
It was a spectacular move, was it all that necessary? Ah, fuck it. MJ stunted and Marv provided the soundtrack as only he could.

Game: Game 5, 1994 Eastern Conference Finals
Date: 6/1/1994
In of the greatest series in NBA playoff history, Reggie Miller and Spike Lee provided all the drama MSG could handle. Marv even threw a few shots at Spike just for good measure. 

Game: Game 1, 1992 NBA Finals, Blazers vs. Bulls
Date: 6/3/1992
Michael Jordan x Marv Albert = NBA greatness. In this clip MJ was in the midst setting the record for most points scored in the first half of a playoff game (35). Props to Marv Albert for noting how cocky Jordan really was for the famous "shrug." P.S. LeBron DO NOT do this.

Game: Game 4, 2002 Western Conference Finals
Date: 5/26/2002
Albert gives us everything we want here: the desperation the Lakers had trying to score, the hope they had in Robert Horry's heave, and the instant jubilation after the made three. Yes young'ns, the Kings used to actually be relevant and good.