Comcast’s NBCUniversal is making sure they get revenue worth every $2.5 billion a year they’re paying the NBA for streaming their games. And what better way to draw traction to your channel than to bring in the GOAT himself—Michael Jordan. NBC, which aired the NBA from 1990 to 2002, is stepping into their first year of an 11-year deal with the league, bringing along everyone’s childhood icon and 90s nostalgia, especially the Roundball Rock track, and fans couldn’t stop gushing over it.

Fans have been buzzing about Michael Jordan’s return to TV, the last time they saw him being in The Last Dance documentary in 2020—or, if you go further back, on the court in 2003. NBC has brought him on as a “special contributor,” giving fans a glimpse of the legend during halftime of today’s game. Jordan sat down with NBC’s play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico for the first episode of the network’s new series, “MJ: Insights to Excellence.”

Michael Jordan explained that his return after so many years is about more than just being on TV, it’s his way of giving back to the game.

“I have an obligation to the game of basketball … as a basketball player is to be able to pass on messages of success and dedication to the game of basketball,” he said. NBC announced that the next episode with Mike Tirico will air on October 28, and it will dive into topics like load management, something the league has been navigating for years.

This season, NBC and Peacock are set to broadcast 100 regular-season NBA games, along with a big slate of playoff matchups, including the Western Conference Finals. Peacock will feature exclusive Monday night games, while NBC/Peacock will run a Tuesday night doubleheader. Once Sunday Night Football wraps up in January, fans can tune in for Sunday Night Basketball on NBC.

Leading the broadcast team is Mike Tirico on play-by-play, joined by Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as analysts. The secondary team features Noah Eagle alongside Grant Hill. Other voices on the mic this season include Michael Grady, Terry Gannon, and Mark Followill. In the studio, Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed will anchor coverage, with analysis from Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.

Meanwhile, ESPN stuck with its familiar voices like Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins. But for fans (and even NBA stars) hungry for both nostalgia and a fresh streaming experience, NBC emerged as the clear winner.

Fans are choosing NBC over ESPN

Patrick Beverley perfectly summed up how fans felt seeing MJ back on screen, tweeting, “MJ that was so 🔥🔥🔥.” While fans were hoping to catch the iconic “cigar MJ,” that moment didn’t happen—yet. Even ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith offered some friendly advice to NBC, saying, “Because the Michael Jordan smoking a cigar is a little bit different from a Michael Jordan that ain’t.” Fun fact: MJ reportedly spends between $550,000 and $940,000 a year on cigars (2022, Sports Rush). Who knows, maybe in an upcoming episode, we’ll finally see him with a cigar in hand or swirling a glass of wine.

Donovan Mitchell couldn’t hide his excitement either, tweeting, “MJ on TV again is elite to see!!”

During the show, Jordan shared a glimpse of the last time he actually played basketball. Surprisingly, he doesn’t even have a hoop at home and hasn’t touched a ball in years. He revealed that the last time he handled a basketball was during the Ryder Cup (he didn’t specify the year). At one point, the owner of the house he rented asked him to show his grandkids a free throw. MJ said, “When I stepped up to shoot the free throw, that’s the most nervous I’ve been in years. And reason being is those kids heard the stories from the parents about what I did 30 years ago, right?” But in true MJ fashion, basketball is muscle memory; he swished the shot without a doubt.

Fans couldn’t stop praising NBC for bringing in MJ and delivering elite streaming. One tweeted, “ESPN halftime: ‘here’s Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A Smith to talk about hoops for 2 seconds followed by gambling commercials. NBC: here’s Michael F—- Jordan.’” Frustration started early as the game tipped off 10–15 minutes late and grew during ESPN’s ad-filled halftime. But switching to NBC and seeing MJ speak instantly lifted fans’ spirits, showing one clear perk of the new $76 billion media deal, they can flip to the best coverage in a second.

Another fan clearly gave ESPN an ultimatum. “Yeah ESPN is gonna be forced to step it up. NBA on NBC is too good and it’s just day 1.” NBC and Peacock rolled out new features to make watching games smoother. Live in Browse lets fans jump right into the action, while Catch Up with Key Plays quickly updates anyone joining late. Mobile viewers can check out the Can’t Miss Highlights playlist for top moments, even from games not on NBC or Peacock.

NBC is also debuting On the Bench for Peacock NBA Monday this season. Analysts sit courtside with teams, giving insights live from each side. Mixing legends and current stars like Reggie Miller, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Austin Rivers, the broadcasts are packed with expert analysis, making NBA on NBC and Peacock a must-watch for fans.

One fan praised: “The NBA on NBC production is SO much better lol.”Despite the excitement, the broadcast hit a few minor glitches early on Tuesday night. A microphone issue meant viewers couldn’t hear Tracy McGrady, prompting Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, and Vince Carter to play “pass the mic.” Carter quickly swapped microphones with McGrady, letting his analysis come through. Later, Taylor’s mic also cut out, but McGrady reassured fans, saying it’s just the first day and the minor issues would be sorted.