While fans scrambled to adjust their schedules to catch games under the NBA’s new 11-year, $76 billion media deals- including NBC quietly securing an 11-year, $2.5 billion broadcast agreement- there was one silver lining: Michael Jordan. It was announced that the legend would serve as a “special contributor” for NBC’s coverage. Excitement ran high as fans anticipated his return to screens, but the interviews themselves fell short. Still, there’s hope that NBC can turn things around and deliver the MJ experience fans have been craving.

Front Office Sports reported on X, “Michael Jordan could agree to two or three more interviews with NBC Sports as part of his “MJ: Insights to Excellence” series, sources tell FOS. Sources say Jordan could sit down with Mike Tirico again before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and NBA Playoffs.’”

That highlights the trust NBC is placing in MJ, even in the face of criticism over the fragmented interviews. But really, who wouldn’t bet on Jordan’s success?

Jordan’s first two segments, focusing on retirement and load management, were derived from a single interview with NBC’s Mike Tirico, later edited into multiple clips aired throughout the season. While speculation had swirled about how much more NBC would reveal, it became clear that his role is unlikely to expand significantly as the season progresses.

“I don’t think it’s one [more] sitdown—but I don’t think it’s 15 either,” a source told Michael McCarthy. “If there are more interviews, they’ll be done at Jordan’s convenience,” adding that fans shouldn’t expect him in-studio or courtside at games.

This approach maintains the focus on Jordan’s insights while preserving the mystique surrounding him.

Another insider described the schedule as “open-ended,” emphasizing that any interviews will occur at Jordan’s convenience. Fans shouldn’t expect him to be courtside with a headset or in-studio like other sports legends. NBC has kept details under wraps, with a spokesperson calling much of the speculation “overwhelmingly inaccurate.”

Recent updates, however, suggest otherwise. Under its new 11-year, $27 billion deal with the NBA, NBC will broadcast the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night. Jordan’s involvement offers the network a golden opportunity to generate excitement around these events.

The 14-time All-Star, three-time All-Star Game MVP, and two-time Slam Dunk contest champion brings a level of credibility and energy few of today’s stars can match.

If he chooses, Jordan could even revisit legendary moments, such as the 1985 “freeze-out,” offering fresh insight into his career and sparking endless discussion among fans and the media alike.

NBC will air six Conference Finals over the next decade, and any insights from the six-time champion would dominate headlines. From his 63-point game against Larry Bird to the legendary “Flu Game” against the Jazz, Jordan’s stories could shape the narrative for a new generation of fans.

NBC’s first NBA coverage in 22 years has already earned praise for blending nostalgia with modern flair, from crisp broadcasts to the return of “Roundball Rock.” But hey, what’s social media without a little backlash?

NBC’s Michael Jordan experiment faces unexpected backlash

Fans were eager to see Michael Jordan back on screen, cigar in hand, cool as ever, for what NBC teased as a “special contribution.” But they didn’t expect it to be quite this special and this short.

NBC has been milking a single one-on-one interview between Jordan and Mike Tirico, stretching it across weeks of programming.

Sure, it had some powerful moments, like MJ’s old-school take on load management, where he reminded players that “fans work hard to afford tickets” and that “players have a responsibility to show up.” However, the irony wasn’t lost on anyone: while Jordan criticized rest days, he has been practicing his own version of “load management” on NBC.

Viewers soon realized they weren’t getting recurring appearances or deep dives into current NBA drama. Rumors about NBC paying Jordan a huge paycheck turned out to be overblown, but so did expectations. Instead of the full-time presence fans dreamed of, MJ’s role is more of a rare cameo.

The backlash grew louder as weeks passed, with fans wondering why the greatest player alive wasn’t weighing in on major headlines like the NBA’s gambling scandal. One fan summed it up best: they tuned in for insight, but got “reruns of the same sit-down.”

Even media insiders couldn’t help but poke fun. Former MLB exec David Samson joked on his Nothing Personal podcast, “They didn’t change Jordan’s clothes. All they had to do was have a costume change, and then it would look like, oh, he sat down again.”

He even admitted, “I change my blazer when we’re doing something on a different day to make people think that it’s different.”

It’s hard to argue with him; if NBC wanted to keep the illusion alive, maybe a new jacket or background could’ve done the trick. Instead, fans got déjà vu with a dressed-up segment and a missed chance to let Jordan’s voice define this new NBA-on-NBC era.