The basketball legend could do a total 3-4 sitdowns with Mike Tirico that can be edited into multiple segments.
Michael Jordan could agree to two or three more interviews with NBC Sports as part of his MJ: Insights to Excellence series, sources tell Front Office Sports.
Ever since NBC announced His Airness would serve as a “special contributor” to its NBA coverage, the question has been how much time the busy Jordan would commit to the project.
The Bulls legend’s first two installments — where he discussed retirement and load management — came from the same TV interview with Mike Tirico. That led to speculation the Hall of Famer did just a single sitdown that would then be edited into multiple segments airing throughout the season.
If all goes well, sources say Jordan could sit down with Tirico again before several vital events on NBC’s coverage calendar: the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and NBA Playoffs.
“I don’t think it’s one sitdown — but I don’t think it’s 15 either,” says one source.
Another source described the process as “open-ended.” If there are more interviews, they’ll be done at Jordan’s convenience. Don’t look for MJ to show up courtside at a live game wearing a head-set or in-studio a la NHL great Wayne Gretzky of TNT Sports, says one source. When NBC announced Jordan at its upfront presentation this spring, he didn’t show in person. Instead, he beamed into Radio City Music Hall via a taped appearance.
As part of its 11-year, $27 billion deal with the NBA, NBC/Peacock gets the rights to the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday nights. What better way to revive flagging interest in All-Star Weekend than to have Jordan — a 14-time All-Star — recount some of his heroics?
After all, Jordan won the game’s MVP award three times and the Slam Dunk contest twice. Unlike many of today’s stars, the ultra-competitor treated the game like it was life or death, not a no-defense exhibition.
If Jordan really wants to get down and dirty he could also address one of the most infamous moments in NBA All-Star history: the “freeze-out” game of 1985, where the All-Star rookie believed other NBA stars led by Isiah Thomas refused to pass him the ball. Thomas has vehemently denied it.
Meanwhile, a Jordan interview during the NBA Playoffs would be a huge feather in NBC’s cap. The network is set to air six Conference Finals over the next 11 years. Anything the six-time champion says about any player or team would be news. The amount of topics Jordan could explore from his own playoff career are too numerous to count, from dropping 63 points on Larry Bird’s Celtics in 1986 to willing the Bulls to a win over the Jazz during “Flu Game” in the 1997 Finals. Just look at the polarizing reaction to his load management criticism.
“Michael Jordan is the GOAT. Anything he says, people are going to listen,” says a source. “It’s gratifying because he’s so mysterious.”
NBC declined to comment on Jordan. But the two are inextricably linked. Jordan’s dynastic Bulls won all six of their NBA titles on NBC airwaves. The previous “NBA on NBC” era from 1990 to 2002 is regarded by many as the league’s golden era. The network has been fanning the mystery around Jordan’s appearances by treating them with nuclear code-level secrecy.
NBC’s first NBA coverage in 22 years has been drawing critical raves. The network has been praised for its “new-stalgia” approach, featuring Jordan, the “Roundball Rock” theme and cameos by Bob Costas. On the tech side, critics love the crisp picture quality of NBC game telecasts with Awful Announcing declaring: “A plea to all networks. Please make your picture look as good as NBC.”
Read more on Front Office Sports
