NBC/NBA
NBC announcer Mike Tirico confirmed in a recent interview what many NBA fans already expected: Michael Jordan’s role as a “special contributor” this season will not extend beyond the lone interview he sat down for prior to the season.
As part of its return to broadcasting the NBA this season — this is the first year that NBC has had NBA rights since 2002 — the network rolled out an ‘Insights to Excellence’ segment featuring the legendary Michael Jordan in conversation with Mike Tirico.
Tirico, however, recently confirmed that Jordan only sat down for just one interview, which the NBC team spliced into multiple segments, and that there won’t be any additional content with MJ this season.
“Was it what everyone wanted? Probably not. 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 a part of it? You bet ya,” Tirico said on the SI Media podcast earlier this week.
“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 that he hasn’t done in a long, long, long time. Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility. I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome.”
.@miketirico defends his NBC interview with Michael Jordan on the SI Media podcast with @JimmyTraina pic.twitter.com/6ZwJxj4TDc
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 15, 2026
NBA fans are clowning on NBC after Mike Tirico confirmed that Michael Jordan’s role as a “special contributor” for the NBA on NBC is over for the season
While most fans had already sussed out that MJ only did the one interview, the confirmation of that theory led to viral jokes about Jordan robbing NBC blind, as the conversation reportedly lasted nearly two hours and was filmed over two days prior to he start of the season.
They were acting like MJ was gonna be on there analyzing games live, dude hit the easiest lick of his life💀 https://t.co/NbDniTb0oe
— 🎭 (@MaskedInLA) January 16, 2026
Sat down for an hour-long interview and said “uh yeah that’ll be 40 million dollars please”.
Incredible. https://t.co/ilAEavylHv
— 🐢✨America Is Musty✨🐢 (@DragonflyJonez) January 15, 2026
Scammed NBC. Fairs https://t.co/WGy7nwZ7Hw
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) January 15, 2026
At this time, it’s unclear if Jordan will be making additional appearances on NBA on NBC beyond this season.