When NBC announced Michael Jordan would join its NBA coverage as a “special contributor,” it got people talking right away. Fans expected the six-time NBA champion to be a regular voice on TV, breaking down games and sharing his GOAT-level perspective as NBC returned to NBA coverage.
But a few weeks into the 2025-26 season, things have looked different. Instead of live analysis or frequent appearances, NBC has mostly used clips from one interview Jordan did with longtime NBC broadcaster Mike Tirico.
Tirico recently explained what fans can actually expect moving forward. His update helped clear up NBC’s plan, even if the online reaction stayed loud.
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Mike Tirico’s Update Made NBC’s Michael Jordan Plan Clearer, But The Noise Didn’t Stop
Tirico’s comments gave fans a clearer idea of what Jordan’s role with NBC really looks like. When the network first announced Jordan as a “special contributor,” many assumed he would be on TV often and offer regular game breakdowns.
So far, that has not happened. Jordan’s involvement has mainly been one sit-down interview with Tirico that lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. NBC has been cutting that interview into smaller clips and using them during studio shows and halftime coverage.
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said in a statement. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”
If fans are waiting for the next interview, it might take a while. “Nothing scheduled as of now that I know of, but it is a possibility,” Tirico said, via Awful Announcing. “I hope there’s something else after it. Michael was awesome.”
Tirico also said he would gladly do another one if it happens. “If we get another shot at it, will I be more than excited to be a part of it? You bet ya. 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.”
For now, NBC’s plan seems simple. Keep using the clips they already have, and see if something else comes together later.
The “Scamming” Talk Around Jordan And NBC Became The Real Story, Not The Announcement
The biggest twist is how quickly social media turned the whole thing into a punchline. Instead of talking about Jordan being part of NBC’s coverage, fans started throwing around the same word.
One comment said, “Scammed NBC. Fairs.” Another just wrote, “SCAMMED.” One fan put it even more bluntly: “Lmaoo s**t was a dud…and ppl were hyped like he was about to be an analyst or something.”
That frustration comes from the “special contributor” label. To most people, it sounded like Jordan would show up a lot more, maybe even doing real analysis. Once it became clear it was mainly one long interview that NBC keeps cutting up, the reactions got louder.
Some fans even questioned the money side. “So nbc paid jordan 40 million just for 1 interview?” one person asked. Another comment saw it as smart promotion instead: “Clever marketing by them. They teased Jordan as part of their NBA offering this season but it turned out to be a long form interview that they spliced to show parts of throughout the season lol.”
To be fair, the “scamming” talk is just online noise. NBC has not accused Jordan of anything, and there is no public proof of any massive payment. But the reaction shows how big expectations were, and how fast disappointment turns into a new storyline.
In the end, the announcement almost became background noise. The bigger story became the debate over expectations, fan frustration, and whether NBC oversold what Jordan’s role would really be.
Published: Jan 17, 2026 06:03 pm