NBA Rankings: The Top 5 NBA Commentating Duos Today

They are the faces and voices that we associate with the NBA today.

A great play-by-play man and informative color analyst can make a somewhat lethargic midseason NBA game watchable.

The national announcing crews have changed over the years when the NBA was on CBS in the 1980s, then blooming during the '90s with the always memorable NBA on NBC era.

Today, ESPN/ABC and TNT each provide some of the best commentating crews who have established themselves as the best in the business.

Let's take a look at the top five announcing duos in the NBA right now, based on their informativeness, knowledge, entertainment and voice.

5. Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown (ESPN)

Informativeness: 9

Knowledge: 10

Entertainment: 5

Voice: 6

Hubie Brown is one of the greatest basketball minds ever in the history of the game. He's played and coached at the high school, college and professional level.

He is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, and he is one of the old-school announcers dating back to his days on CBS.

What goes against Mike Tirico is he isn't strictly an NBA guy. Tirico is an all-around great announcer, who is the voice of Monday Night Football, as well as golf. But when you hear his voice on TV, you don't immediately think NBA.

Brown's knowledge, however, is unmatched as a color analyst as he's seen basically anything and everything. The 79-year-old is still going strong. His old-school mentality and knowledge make him one of the best today.

Overall score — 30

4. Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello (TNT)

Informativeness: 10

Knowledge: 8

Entertainment: 6

Voice: 7

Dick Stockton and Mike Fratello are fixtures when it comes to NBA announcing.

Stockton has a long history with the league, as he was the lead play-by-play voice for CBS in the '80s. His old-school tones bring back memories to the golden age of the league during the '80s and '90s.

Fratello's body of work is also synonymous with the NBA, having coached for three NBA teams and being one of the top voices when games were broadcasted on NBC.

While they may not be the most entertaining because they take the old-school approach, they are arguably the most experienced and well-informed on this list from an announcing standpoint.

Overall score — 31

3. Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller (TNT)

Informativeness: 8

Knowledge: 8

Entertainment: 10

Voice: 8

When talking about great announcers who mix a little bit of the old school and new school, Kevin Harlan definitely fits that bill as one of the best today.

He burst onto the NBA scene when he became the play-by-play man for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the '90s. His calm approach as he builds up to calling exciting plays provides tremendous tracks for highlights.

Reggie Miller is a relative newcomer to the broadcasting scene, bringing the entertainment from his trash-talking days as a player. He's not afraid to say what he thinks.

His voice is definitely unique, and his experience as a player in high-pressure situations bring a great perspective to the game.

Score — 34

2. Marv Albert and Steve Kerr (TNT)

Informativeness: 9

Knowledge: 8

Entertainment: 9

Voice: 10

There aren't many more distinguishable voices in the NBA than Marv Albert.

Albert may do college football, NFL, major league baseball—and really, anything—but his voice is on the tracks for some of the most memorable highlights in NBA history.

He brings a high sense of knowledge to the game, along with a dry humor with Steve Kerr, that makes some games much more entertaining than they should, which is an art.

Kerr brings his own unique experiences as a player and general manager, and his voice is as synonymous with anyone in the NBA.

Albert and Kerr bring the right mix of information, humor and entertainment to any game they call, showing why they are the lead team on TNT.

Score — 36

1. Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy (ABC)

Informativeness: 9

Knowledge: 9

Entertainment: 10

Voice: 9

It's been said numerous times, but how many people knew Jeff Van Gundy was this entertaining based on what he was like as a coach in Houston and New York?

Van Gundy has certainly found his niche in the booth. He's not afraid to speak his mind and is knowledgeable with the issues he brings up on the air. He is informative and entertaining and, hopefully, he stays in the announce booth rather than back on the sidelines.

There are numerous videos on YouTube with the rants he has done on air, and what he does bring up is relevant to discussion. Most recently, he spawned a discussion about his brother, Stan, not receiving an analyst job with ESPN (via Michael Hiestand of USA Today).

Mike Breen has established himself as a true NBA guy, having been the voice of the New York Knicks and Olympic basketball coverage. His calm and objective approach brings a nice blend with Van Gundy's more opinionated style.

Score — 37

What are your thoughts? Who is the best commentating duo in the NBA today?