Mike Tirico on the Truth Behind Michael Jordan's Limited Role at NBC

Mike Tirico defends Michael Jordan's NBC Sports interview, saying people are still talking about it a year later despite criticism of segments.

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NBC's return to NBA coverage last season left longtime basketball fans nostalgic. The venerable broadcast network acquired the rights to the league as part of an 11-year media deal, reviving the iconic theme song that accompanied NBA broadcasts from 1990 to 2002.

Disney-owned ESPN and Amazon Prime Video also joined the deal, marking the NBA's move away from longtime broadcast partner TNT. As NBC prepares to launch its 2025-26 NBA coverage, the network announced that former Chicago Bulls superstar and six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan has been named a "special contributor."

Some interpreted the announcement as a signal that Jordan would be a regular at the studio desk. Instead, his role became a sit-down interview with anchor Mike Tirico that NBC split into segments and aired throughout the season.

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When the 2026-27 NBA season begins next Tuesday, Jordan is not slated to play his role again. Nearly a year after NBC announced, questions about Jordan's limited engagement continue.

Tirico argued that continued interest in the interview validated NBC's decision to allow Jordan a limited role.

"I love the fact that we did an interview — and you can say what you want about airing it once or airing it throughout our lineup — it's a year later and people are still talking about it," Tirico said Tuesday in New York City during an onstage interview at the Sports Tuned In Summit. "And people still ask about it. I think that's because it was totally worth it."

Rather than addressing daily NBA headlines or spotlighting current players, Jordan's interview focused on broader topics, including his burden management and his enduring love for basketball.

This approach may have disappointed viewers hoping to hear the basketball icon talk about players like LeBron James or big stories like the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers controversy. Still, Tirico believes these segments provide an authentic view of Jordan's personality.

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"I think Michael Jordan wasn't on TV for a long time for a reason," Tirico said. He wants to be Michael Jordan. Even when he's in front of the camera, there's an aura about Michael Jordan that's completely different. Sitting in front of him. It's just a different feeling. I think he's higher than ever. Saying, 'Hey, who's the best point guard in the NBA right now?' and "Who is the best this or the best that?"

If another meeting can be arranged in the future, Tirico would eagerly welcome Jordan back regardless of the subject.

"I will say it was fun hanging out with MJ and talking about basketball and talking about business and golf and all that stuff," Tirico said. “If he wanted it, we'd all run to have him every day. But I think that's not what he wants to do at this point in his life and career."

The NBA kicks off the 2026-27 season on Oct. 20 with a three-game stretch starting with an afternoon matchup between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons. The defending champion New York Knicks then host the new-look Philadelphia 76ers, while the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs close out the night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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