Michael Jordan makes on-air return as NBC Sports special contributor
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NEW YORK — Michael Jordan stepped back onto NBA television Tuesday night, joining NBC Sports’ season-opening broadcast as a special contributor and reviving the mix of humility, humor and competitiveness that marked his playing career.
In the debut segment of MJ: Insights to Excellence, the 62-year-old Hall of Famer told host Mike Tirico he sees the new role as “an obligation to the game of basketball” that shaped his life. “As a basketball player, it’s to be able to pass on messages of success and dedication to the game,” Jordan said.
Jordan noted that he generally avoids the spotlight to focus on family, but the NBC platform gives him a chance to “pay it forward.” The six-time NBA champion also acknowledged that the competitive edge remains, even if he rarely touches a ball.
He recalled renting a house with a court and being coaxed by the homeowners’ grandchildren to shoot a single free throw. “I got nervous—more nervous than I’ve been in years,” he admitted, aware the children had only heard stories of his prime. Asked by Tirico if the shot went in, Jordan broke into a grin: “Absolutely. That made my whole week.”
NBC is back on NBA duty for the first time in more than two decades, complete with the familiar “Roundball Rock” theme and a digitally recreated voiceover by the late Jim Fagan. Jordan, once the centerpiece of those broadcasts, now joins the network’s storytelling team.
The next installment of MJ: Insights to Excellence airs Oct. 28 and will examine load management—an approach Jordan once found unnecessary during his playing days.
Source: Hoops Wire
