His Airness, Michael Jordan, is stepping into the spotlight once again, but this time with a microphone instead of a basketball. The NBA legend is set to join NBC Sports as a special contributor when the network begins its NBA coverage for the 2025–26 season.
And if the veteran NBA analyst, Stephen A. Smith, is right, fans should prepare for unfiltered takes and no-nonsense analysis. NBC’s move marks a bold shift for the upcoming broadcast era, but it’s Jordan’s role that has people buzzing the most.
Stephen A. Stephen Says Jordan Will Speak His Mind
Smith, when asked what to expect from Jordan’s upcoming presence on NBC’s NBA coverage, painted a vivid picture of how the NBA all-time great will approach his new role on NBC’s NBA team. Speaking on the “PBD Podcast” with Patrick Bet-David, Smith predicted that Jordan will bring the same competitive fire and blunt honesty that made him a global icon.
“Let me tell you something about Michael Jordan; he’s going to be brutally honest—I can assure you that,” Smith said.
Smith emphasized that Jordan won’t be sugarcoating his opinions.
“He’s not going to be somebody who’s going to be passive,” Smith continued. “The Michael Jordan I know, when talking basketball, he is as candid as it gets. He ain’t trying to hurt nobody’s feelings. He ain’t trying to be insulting — but he’s going to tell you what’s going on.”
In other words, Jordan’s not interested in soft takes or media training. He’s focused on the game, plain and simple.
Smith also pointed out that Jordan isn’t doing this for the money or fame. With the Jordan Brand and a reported net worth of over $2 billion, he doesn’t need another spotlight. But this role, Smith said, comes from Jordan’s love of the game.
“I really, really don’t [think he’ll be passive], and I’m actually proud of him for doing it because, with the Jordan Brand and him being worth over $2 billion, he doesn’t need this,” Smith said. “He’s talking about the game of basketball. I don’t think he’s going to be shy about saying what he sees—at all.”
And if Jordan ever holds back, well, Smith is there to give him a little nudge.
“As a matter of fact, if he is, he’s going to have to deal with me because I’m going to be in his ear telling him, ‘You’re getting shy now. That’s what we’re doing? That ain’t the MJ I know!'”
Smith and Jordan share a friendly rapport. Smith has even mentioned getting text messages from Jordan over the years, adding to his confidence in how direct Jordan will be on-air.
Jordan’s Return Marks a New Era in NBA Broadcast
Jordan’s new role comes as NBC gears up for a massive return to NBA coverage. The NBC, together with Disney and Amazon, inked an 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal with the NBA and WNBA. That agreement takes effect in the 2025–26 season, replacing the current nine-year, $24 billion contract that ends after 2024–25.
NBC previously held NBA broadcast rights from 1990 to 2002, a span that coincided with all six of Jordan’s championships with the Chicago Bulls. So his return to NBC feels like a full-circle moment.
The network is also building out a strong team of analysts. In addition to Jordan, former NBA stars Jamal Crawford, Reggie Miller, and Carmelo Anthony are expected to bring their voices to the booth.
With Jordan on board, NBC is hoping to inject both nostalgia and authenticity into its new coverage. And if Smith is right, fans are in for something that’s brutally honest — and totally unmissable.