It had been announced earlier this year that an all-time great would be making appearances on NBC’s return to broadcasting NBA basketball. Monday, the network announced just what role he would have.
In a release, NBC announced that Tuesday night’s doubleheader would feature a portion of an interview between lead NBA play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. The series is called MJ: Insights to Excellence, and is slated to air throughout the NBA season. The network did not say how many times Jordan would contribute to broadcasts this season.
Jordan Looking Forward To Working On NBC’s NBA Broadcasts
All-time great calls NBC’s games “meaningful part of my career”
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said in a statement back in May. “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.”
“Michael’s legacy both on and off the court speaks for itself,” said NBC Sports President Rick Cordella. “We’re incredibly proud to have him join our coverage.”
Tuesday’s doubleheader will be the first NBA games shown on NBC since Game 4 of the 2002 NBA Finals when the Los Angeles Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets June 12, 2002. The league moved the following season to ABC and ESPN.
CNBC reported back in May that the 62-year-old Hall of Fame guard and former owner of the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets franchise would be involved in a series of pre-taped interviews that would air at halftime of NBA broadcasts on NBC.
NBC’s NBA coverage begins Tuesday with a doubleheader of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets, followed by the Golden State Warriors taking on the Los Angeles Lakers.
