Michael Jordan is not expected to be back on our screens as part of NBC Sports’ basketball coverage next season, according to reports.
The NBA legend sparked a frenzy last May when it was announced that he would be joining the network as a ‘special contributor.’
But rather than provide regular analysis and insight, Jordan conducted just one interview with NBC host Mike Tirico, which was spread across multiple weeks of the season.
That sparked a backlash from some supporters and as it stands, according to Front Office Sports, Jordan is unlikely to return for the 2026/27 season. The Daily Mail has contacted NBC for comment.
Following the complaints about Jordan’s contributions last season, Tirico leaped to the defense of the NBA legend.
‘Michael doesn’t talk much, as you know. Michael still has so many interests in the game, business interests, with a piece of the [Charlotte] Hornets and obviously his involvement with [Jordan Brand],’ he told Sports Illustrated.
Michael Jordan is not expected to be back on NBC Sports’ basketball coverage next season
Jordan conducted just one interview with Mike Tirico, which was spread across the season
‘Are there a ton of topics you’d love to get to? Of course. But Michael wanted to talk about where he sees the game right now. And we haven’t heard a lot of that.’
Tirico continued: ‘It was interesting. It was fun. It was good perspective. My takeaway was how much he cares about the game still. He loves the game.
‘And in some regards [he] doesn’t love the direction of the game and wanted to talk about it. It was a great forum. His longevity and connection with the NBA on NBC made it possible.’
In one segment, Jordan took aim at today’s crop of big-money NBA stars and questioned their love for basketball.
NBC host Tirico defended Jordan’s lack of airtime after joining the network as a ‘contributor’
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And though Tirico admitted that the sit-down was ‘probably not’ what ‘everyone wanted,’ he insisted: ‘Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You’re damn right it was… and if we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be part of it? You betcha.
‘In our world right now, all you want to do is make the final answer before you know everything. I love that Michael trusted us enough to sit and do something he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time – to talk about where the game is right now.
‘And there’s still a few more to come that will still be pitch perfect for the moment, although it’s not gonna talk about Nikola Jokić [getting] injured four weeks ago for Denver. We got a hundred people talking about that.
‘We don’t have the greatest player of all time talking about what he sees as the evolution of the game.’
