Michael Jordan, widely known for his legendary NBA career, continues to surprise even his closest rivals. In a shocking turn of events, the former Chicago Bulls star, who spent 13 years as the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, has joined NBC as a special contributor. This announcement has left many, including his former friend and rival, Charles Barkley, guessing about what this role actually entails.
The two NBA icons have a history that dates back to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they competed fiercely. Over the years, they also shared countless rounds of golf and built a close friendship. However, their relationship hit a rough patch due to Barkley’s criticisms of Jordan’s tenure as a team owner. Despite this, Barkley, who recently announced his move from TNT to ESPN as a studio analyst, still had no idea about Jordan’s new career move with NBC.
On the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast by Barstool Sports, Barkley candidly admitted, “I have no idea what Michael is going to do. I don’t think he’s going to do a lot. I know he’s not going to do a lot. I was 100% shocked, but I don’t think he’s going to do a lot. Period.” The former NBA MVP expressed his surprise over Jordan’s decision but added that he wasn’t expecting much from his old friend in the studio.
NBC’s surprise announcement comes as part of its efforts to rebuild its NBA broadcasting roster for the 2025-26 season. The network had lost NBA broadcasting rights to ABC and ESPN back in 2002 but is now making a return. Jordan’s involvement with NBC is seen as a significant addition, especially given his prominent role in the NBA’s golden era during the “NBA on NBC” days.
According to Awful Announcing, Jordan’s role is expected to focus primarily on pre-taped segments rather than live studio appearances. While Barkley and fans alike are excited by the possibility of seeing Jordan on NBC again, the consensus is that his appearances may not be as frequent or as extensive as many had hoped.
What’s your take on Michael Jordan joining NBC? Do you think we’ll see more of him on air, or will his role be minimal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love hearing from you!
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According to The New York Post, despite their past falling out, Barkley humorously speculated that Jordan might just need a break from his private club, The Grove XXIII, in Florida. “He’s probably trying to fix The Grove,” Barkley joked. “He made The Grove where you have to be able to hit the ball left or right. He’s probably trying to fix the fairways so people who play a hook can play there.”
NBC has yet to fully define what being a “special contributor” will mean for Jordan’s role, but fans are eagerly awaiting any updates on what might be his first appearance for the network.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the publication. All information is based on available sources at the time of writing.
