Michael Jordan is stepping back into the NBA spotlight, but not in the way you might think. He’s not lacing up his sneakers. He’s heading to the studio. Starting with the 2025–26 season, Jordan’s joining NBC Sports as a special contributor for their NBA coverage. Yeah, the Michael Jordan. It’s his first time taking on any sort of official broadcasting role in the NBA, which makes this kind of a big deal.
Why Now, and Why NBC?
NBC announced the news on May 12, 2025, during their Upfronts event in New York City. Jordan said he’s genuinely excited about working with NBC again — if you remember, that’s the same network that aired a lot of his legendary games back in the '90s. It’s like he’s going full circle now.
This also lines up with NBC getting back into the NBA game. They’ve teamed up with Disney and Amazon for an 11-year, $76 billion deal to bring NBA games back to their channels. It’s actually the first time NBC will air NBA games since 2002, so Jordan joining right now kind of feels symbolic, you know?
Jordan Won’t Be Alone on the Mic
Jordan’s not the only big name in the mix. NBC is putting together a pretty stacked commentary team for their NBA coverage. Here's who they’ve confirmed so far:
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Mike Tirico as lead play-by-play commentator
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Noah Eagle also doing play-by-play
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Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as game analysts
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Carmelo Anthony joining as a studio analyst
And they’re even bringing back the classic “Roundball Rock” theme song by John Tesh — that song that played during NBC's NBA games back in the day. It’s a small thing, but it’s got that nostalgic vibe for people who grew up watching the league back then.
What This Means for NBA Fans
Honestly, this could change how people watch NBA games. Jordan being involved, even if he’s not on the court, is going to draw a lot of attention. He’s not the type to do things halfway, so whatever he brings — insight, analysis, maybe some behind-the-scenes stuff — it’ll probably hit different from your usual commentary.
With NBC competing against platforms like Amazon Prime and ESPN, this move gives them a strong edge. Let’s be real: people are going to tune in just to see what Jordan has to say. Especially younger fans who never got to watch him play live — this might be the closest they get to hearing from the GOAT during a live game.
Looking Ahead to the 2025–26 NBA Season
There’s still a lot we don’t know — like how often Jordan will appear on broadcasts or what exactly he’ll be doing. But the buzz is already building. Fans seem pretty hyped about it. The 2025–26 season is shaping up to be something special, and Jordan being back in the mix — even off the court — just adds another layer of excitement.
We’ll keep watching this story as it unfolds. But yeah, it’s official: MJ is back... just not in sneakers this time.
