Michael Jordan Begins Role as NBC Sports Analyst, Says He Wants to ‘Pay It Forward’
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NEW YORK — Michael Jordan returned to the national airwaves Tuesday night, appearing as a special contributor during NBC Sports’ first NBA broadcast in more than two decades and describing the move as a way to give back to basketball.
The six-time NBA champion spoke with play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico in the debut installment of “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” a recurring halftime segment that premiered during the season opener between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets.
“I have an obligation to the game of basketball … to pass on messages of success and dedication,” the 62-year-old Hall of Famer said when asked why he accepted the on-air role. Jordan added that he consciously limits public appearances to prioritize time with his family but felt compelled to “pay it forward.”
NBC’s return to NBA coverage blended nostalgia with the current era. The broadcast opened with players sharing memories—or, in some cases, admitting they had none—of the league’s previous run on the network, which ended in 2002. John Tesh’s iconic “Roundball Rock” theme music was revived, and an artificial-intelligence recreation of longtime NBC narrator Jim Fagan introduced the telecast.
Jordan, who starred in many of those earlier NBC games, said his competitive fire remains strong even though he rarely touches a basketball. He recalled renting a house during the recent Ryder Cup and nervously shooting a single free throw for the owner’s grandchildren. “Their expectation is 30 years prior,” he joked. The shot went in. “That made my whole week,” he told Tirico.
The network said the next segment featuring Jordan will air Oct. 28 and will address topics such as load management. Asked if he ever wishes he could still play, Jordan laughed. “I wish I could take a magic pill, put on shorts and go out and play,” he said. “But it’s better for me to be sitting here talking to you than popping my Achilles and ending up in a wheelchair.”
Source: ESPN.com
