Basketball icon Michael Jordan is stepping into a new role next season, as a special contributor to NBC Sports’ NBA coverage.
The announcement came during NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation at Radio City Music Hall, where the network outlined its programming slate for the upcoming television year, The Associated Press reports.
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said in a news release. “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.”
NBC Sports President Rick Cordella praised the move: “Michael’s legacy both on and off the court speaks for itself. We’re incredibly proud to have him join our coverage.”
NBC’s upcoming NBA coverage marks a major return after more than two decades. The network previously held broadcast rights from 1990 to 2002, a span that included all six of Jordan’s championship victories with the Chicago Bulls.
Per The AP, under NBC’s new 11-year deal with the NBA and WNBA, coverage begins this October. The network plans to stream exclusive Monday night games on Peacock, regional doubleheaders on Tuesdays, and will debut Sunday Night Basketball in January across NBC and Peacock platforms.
This partnership marks the first time Jordan has joined a network in a contributor role. Stephen A. Smith believes Jordan should show the same genuine personality in public that he does in private, rather than the more reserved image he often presents.
“I just wanna know, is it gonna be the Michael Jordan you see on television? Or is it gonna be the Michael Jordan we speak to? Because if it’s the Michael Jordan we speak to, it’s gonna be epic,” Smith asked on ESPN.
“This brother, the things that he will say and the way that he says them and the way that he breaks them down….that’s on another level,” he continued.
“But if it’s NBC and he wants to mind his manners about every little syllable that he utters, he’ll be alright. But that brother ain’t used to being alright, he’s used to being great,” Smith said.
He added: “When the man has the cigar in his mouth, he’s a different cat…My advice to NBC: let him have the cigar.”
Watch Smith’s remarks in the X/Twitter video below.
