Michael Jordan Served as Special Contributor for NBC
The basketball icon provided an exclusive sit-down interview during the 2025-26 NBA broadcasting season.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Basketball
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During the 2025-26 NBA season, Michael Jordan held a special contributor role for NBC, which regained broadcasting rights as part of an 11-year media deal. The network showcased the legend through a single sit-down interview split into multiple segments throughout the year.
Why it matters
Jordan prefers to avoid daily NBA discourse, leading NBC to utilize his limited participation to maintain an aura distinct from standard league coverage. The move coincided with NBC bringing back the classic theme song used during their original 1990 to 2002 coverage.
Jordan won 6 NBA championships during his career, contributing to his selection for the high-profile feature. The league's new media rights landscape now includes NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video.
The players
Michael Jordan
He is a retired professional basketball player who won 6 NBA championships during his career.
NBC
This is a major American television network that recently regained NBA broadcasting rights as part of an 11-year deal.
Mike Tirico
He is a prominent sportscaster who discussed media industry developments at a Front Office Sports summit.
The details
NBC integrated Jordan into its season-long broadcast package by segmenting a single interview, ensuring his presence felt significant without requiring his daily involvement. This strategy helped anchor the return of NBC to the NBA, alongside a broader multi-partner deal that replaced the network's previous TNT partnership.
Timeline
NBC aired NBA games from 1990 to 2002.
Michael Jordan served as a special contributor during the 2025-26 season.
Mike Tirico spoke at a Front Office Sports summit on October 14, 2026.
The 2026-27 NBA season is scheduled to open on October 20, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The return of NBC to NBA broadcasting signals a massive shift in how the league packages its games alongside partners like ESPN and Amazon Prime Video. This fragmentation of media rights marks the end of the long-standing TNT era and reshapes the fan viewing experience for the foreseeable future.
Jordan is not expected to return to his contributor role for the 2026-27 season, meaning viewers should not anticipate similar exclusive interviews next year. Fans will continue to see NBC as a primary rights holder throughout the remainder of the 11-year media deal.
The takeaway
Jordan's participation highlights how networks use limited, high-value access to bridge the gap between legacy branding and modern sports media. Viewers interested in the league should look for shifting broadcast schedules as the new multi-partner rights deal continues through the next decade.
What happens next
The 2026-27 NBA season begins on October 20, 2026, with a schedule featuring 3 games on opening night.
Further reading
Explore the evolving landscape of Basketball coverage and media partnerships.
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