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It’s been nearly one year since NBC Sports first aired Mike Tirico’s interview with Michael Jordan.
Yet despite the conversation having faced criticism from some viewers who believed NBC Sports had oversold Jordan’s role as a “special contributor” in the network’s return as an NBA rights holder, Tirico is quick to point out that it remains relevant today.
“I love the fact that we did one interview—and you can say what you want about it airing once or being spread out over our series of pregame shows during the year—it’s a year later and people are still talking about it,” Tirico told Ryan Glasspiegel onstage at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit Tuesday. “And people are still asking about it. Which, to me, is all the reason that it was completely worth it.”
As Tirico noted, Jordan’s contributions to NBC’s coverage consisted of a single interview, which was then spliced into multiple segments that aired throughout the season. The conversation didn’t focus on the NBA’s daily news or specific current players, but rather general topics such as load management and his personal passion for basketball.
For those who were eager to hear Jordan weigh in on players like LeBron James or stories like the Clippers–Kawhi Leonard Aspiration scandal, the interviews were underwhelming. Tirico, however, stands by the segments, which he believes were authentic to Jordan’s personality.
“I think Michael Jordan hadn’t been on TV for a long time for a reason,” Tirico told Glasspiegel. “He likes being Michael Jordan. Even still, when he’s on camera, there’s an aura about Michael Jordan that is just different. Sitting across from him. It’s just a different feel. I think he is above the daily discourse of, ‘Hey, who is the best point guard in the NBA right now?’ and ‘who’s the best this or the best that?’”
Earlier this year, FOS reported Jordan isn’t expected to return to NBC’s coverage for the upcoming NBA season. Still, Tirico would welcome another segment with the six-time NBA champion, regardless of the subjects covered.
“I will say that it was damn cool to hang with MJ and talk basketball, and talk business and golf and all that other stuff,” Tirico said. “If he wanted to be—we would all run to have him on every single day. But that’s just not what he wants to do, I think, at this point in his career and life.”
