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Basketball Hall of Fame announcer Mike Breen misidentified a spectator as Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday's wife during the live broadcast of the Celtics' series-clinching win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden Monday (June 17) night.
ABC showed a blonde woman, who was wearing a credential around her neck, in the stands with two young children while Breen was discussing Holiday and his actual wife, former U.S. Women's National Soccer Team midfielder and forward Lauren Holiday, with 4:39 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“So 4:39 remaining…and there’s his wife,” Breen said before the broadcast transitioned to sound from a player wearing a microphone on the Celtics bench.
Breen corrected himself seconds later as Celtics forward Jayson Tatum shot free throws.
“We want to make a quick correction and apologies, that was not Jrue Holiday’s wife,” Breen said.
Lauren Holiday is a decorated retired soccer player, winning two Olympic gold medals and one World Cup for the U.S. Women's National Team, being named as the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year in 2007 and U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2014, and becoming the first player in the National Women's Professional Soccer league to have her jersey retired.
The identity of the woman mistaken for Lauren Holiday was unclear as of Tuesday (June 18) morning.
Jrue Holiday was acquired by the Celtics in a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns last September. The now-two-time NBA champion agreed to a four-year, $135 million contract extension, which includes $100 million guaranteed, with Boston in April.
The Celtics cruised to a 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 Monday night. The win marked Boston's NBA record 18th championship in franchise history, which surpassed a record previously shared with the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
Boston finished the 2023-24 regular season with an NBA-best 64-18 record (.780 winning percentage), which included going 37-4 at TD Garden. The Celtics went 16-3 during the NBA Playoffs, which included sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and winning every other series in five games.
Boston won its last last NBA championship came in 2008 and appeared in the NBA Finals in 2010, 2022 and 2024.