Mark Jones’ commentary during Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Celtics had some NBA fans scratching their head.
In Thursday’s series opener, the Celtics outscored the Warriors, 40-16, in the fourth quarter, including a 14-0 run that spurred Jones’ commentary.
“The Celtics have stormed ahead! This insurrection has them leading by 11,” Jones said on the ABC/ESPN broadcast.
Boston sealed a 1-0 lead with a 120-103 win, but Jones’ choice of words gave fans something “pretty weird” to talk about on Twitter.
One fan tweeted that it’s “still too soon to drop an ‘insurrection’ during a broadcast, Mark Jones.”
Some fans claimed Jones’ commentary was reminiscent of the January 2021 attacks on the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.
Mark Jackson and Mark Jones on Thursday’s NBA Finals broadcast. ABCJones called the game with Mark Jackson in a two-man booth. He filled in for Mike Breen, ESPN’s lead NBA play-by-player, to call Game 1, after Breen was out with COVID-19 — as was ESPN game analyst Jeff Van Gundy and insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Jones also filled in for Breen on Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals after Breen tested positive for COVID-19.
Game 2 is Sunday at Golden State. Breen, as well as Van Gundy, are possibilities to return for that matchup.
