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NBC announced that Michael Jordan will be a special contributor to their NBA coverage when it begins in the 2025-2026 season on Monday.
The long -standing sports view Kevin Harlan talked about what the public should expect from Jordan behind the desk.
“I think when you talk about maybe the biggest player who has ever played our game, it’s always the interior things that I think are most captivating,” Harlan said during a recent performance on Outkicks “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.”
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Michael Jordan and Curtis Polk, Left, co-owners of 23xi Racing, surveillance during the qualification next to 23xi racing president Steve Lauletta for a NASCAR CUP SERIES run, November 9, 2024, in Avondale, Arizona. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
“You don’t have to rattle from statistics, you can talk about your personal experience, and if you talk about his matches with Reggie Miller and talk about how he prepared for a game 7, or how he prepared for a new series or how he prepared for sections during the regular season. I think that’s what people will see what’s behind the curtain.”
“We all have access to the numbers, we read the stories, but I want Jordan to tell me things that I don’t know.”
Harlan quoted an interview he did with deceased Kobe Bryant and how insightful he was, and Harlan wanted Jordan to give similar insights.
“To hear Kobe talk in detail about footwork, positioning, reader, schemes, all, preparation, preparation day, after-game routine, as it is the kind of thing I want to hear Jordan talk about,” said Harlan.
Michael Jordan to join NBC as ‘Special Contributor’ to NBA coverage
Michael Jordan under 400 400 presented by mobile 1 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 22, 2023. (Jasen Vinlove-usa Today Sports)
Harlan said Jordan should take fans “behind the scenes.”
“We have a barrier of stories from hosts and their analysts, it’s big, there’s only a Michael Jordan, there’s only a Kobe Bryant, and to hear them talk about different facets of the game,” Harlan said.
“You don’t have to be there dimming 18 different things, choosing one thing, choosing two things, taking people behind the scenes and back of the curtain and revealing what it’s like to be in that position for that trainer for that team. Some personal experiences, not ‘good in my day’, not that kind of thing, but a way of preparing for a great defender is dot dot.”
CBS Sports Analyst Kevin Harlan on the field ahead of a game between Texas Tech Red Raiders and Florida Gators during the NCAA tournament in Chase Center on March 29, 2025. (Kyle Terada-Preferred Pictures)
NBC wore the rights to NBA from 1990-2002, Jordan’s highest year. After 23 years without it, the NBA returns to the network when their 11-year contract begins in October.
“I’m so excited to see the NBA back on the NBC,” Jordan said during a video message. “NBA at NBC was a meaningful part of my career and I’m excited to be a special contributor to the project. I look forward to seeing you all when NBA at NBC is launched in October.”
Jordan had not been part of any network since his pension, but had a documentary about his career, “The Last Dance”, Air on Espn in 2020.
