Michael Jordan apparently has decided that one season in the broadcast booth was enough.
The 6-time NBA champion will reportedly not return to NBC Sports for the 2026-27 NBA season. Jordan joined NBC last season as a special contributor when the network returned to NBA coverage.
And now, just like that, His Airness is reportedly back on the sidelines.
Jordan’s broadcasting experiment was always an interesting one. The man spent his playing career making defenders look silly. Then he entered television and had to figure out how to make basketball analysis sound exciting without putting on sneakers.
According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Jordan is not expected to return to NBC Sports’ NBA coverage for the 2026-27 campaign.
McCarthy noted that NBC declined to comment on the situation, but he added, “As always, the mercurial Jordan could change his mind.”
Landing Jordan in any capacity was a major moment for NBC, which brought the NBA back to its airwaves for the first time since 2002 with its new broadcast rights deal with the league. Despite being one of the greatest players of all time, the 63-year-old has typically refrained from voicing his opinion on the league.
Jordan brought plenty of star power to NBC’s coverage. Obviously, the network did not need to introduce him. This is Michael Jordan we are talking about. The guy’s name alone can probably attract viewers who have not watched a full NBA game since 1998, but his run apparently will not continue.
As NBC’s “special on-air contributor” last season, Jordan participated in a single sit-down interview with Mike Tirico that was spliced into multiple segments that aired at various points throughout the year. As McCarthy explained, “Although his conversation with Tirico was fascinating, his appearances were ultimately few and far between and didn’t focus on the NBA’s current events.”
Since selling his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, Jordan has mostly turned his attention to NASCAR, as he is the co-owner of 23XI Racing along with veteran driver Denny Hamlin.
After McCarthy’s report on Wednesday, it sounds like Jordan will have even more time on his hands to dedicate to his endeavors outside of basketball.
Jordan is not disappearing from basketball. His connection to the sport remains massive. He simply appears to be leaving the television side of things behind.
And honestly, nobody can blame him if he prefers watching the games without having to explain them.
