NBA fans were treated to a special experience on Monday night when Gus Johnson was on the call for the NBA playoff game between the Philadelphia Sixers and Toronto Raptors. And while the game itself hasn’t been competitive for the most part, that hasn’t diminished how excited they were to hear Gus do lots of Gus things all evening.
It was announced over the weekend that Johnson would call NBA playoff games for TNT alongside Greg Anthony, starting with Raptors-Sixers Game 2 on Monday night. And that meant that however exciting some of these plays were going to be, Gus was going to make them much better.
EMBIID IS TOO DOMINANT
Gus Johnson on the call makes it even better 😂🙌 pic.twitter.com/mhGvVj0Yz4
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 19, 2022
Harden to Embiid.
Too easy. pic.twitter.com/TfrbmEAw1Z
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 18, 2022
While Joel Embiid and the Sixers have been in control for most of the evening, all anyone wanted to do was bask in the glory of Gus calling an NBA game, as well as wonder why this isn’t something that happens all the time.
the world is a better place with gus johnson calling nba playoff basketball
— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) April 18, 2022
The Raptors should be ashamed for ruining a Gus Johnson game.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) April 19, 2022
God bless Gus Johnson bro
— Kazeem Famuyide (@Kazeem) April 19, 2022
Gus Johnson not regularly doing NBA games is a crime.
— Jay Scott Smith (@JayScottSmith) April 19, 2022
The only thing better than Gus Johnson calling NBA playoff games would be Gus Johnson calling NCAA Tournament games.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) April 18, 2022
Good God that’s Gus Johnson’s music!!!!!!!! Wow! what a delight!!!!!!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) April 18, 2022
Gus Johnson should be a regular NBA Commentator, dude is doing such a good job
— Shake4ndbake (@ItsShake4ndbake) April 19, 2022
It’s a true shame that Johnson happens to work for Fox, which means that he doesn’t get access to March Madness or much NBA basketball throughout the season. But the fact that he’s able to work some playoff games for TNT has been a boon for many viewers who love to hear his exuberant calls. Given how much money is being thrown around for broadcasters these days, coupled with the excitement that a Johnson-called game brings with it, you’d have to assume someone is going to want to make that happen sooner or later.
And hey, if we can get Gus to call a Steph Curry game, that should make for a fun discussion.
In the meantime, if you want more Gus, you’ll hear him calling Game 2 between the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
