In an exclusive appearance Tuesday on NBC & Peacock, airing at halftime of Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets, Michael Jordan spoke with Mike Tirico about how he spends his time post-retirement, why he felt it was important to launch his “MJ: Insights To Excellence” series … and the unlikely time he felt pressure attempting a free throw.

Michael Jordan has returned to the spotlight as a special contributor for NBC, which will result in more hype for the Air Jordan sneaker line.

The NBA 2025-2026 season tipped off on Tuesday with its much-anticipated return to NBC and the debut of basketball legend Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the network’s coverage. He appeared along Mike Tirico in a segment called “MJ: Insights to Excellence,

Michael Jordan, who officially joined NBC as a special contributor earlier this year, will have his own series throughout the 2025-26 NBA season.

Maybe it was the nostalgia kicking in, but Tuesday felt bigger than usual for the NBA as it returned to NBC for the first time since 2002.

Michael Jordan, considered by some to be the greatest player in the history of the NBA, made his TV debut with NBC Sports on Tuesday night. The six-time NBA champion, who played for both the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards,

Despite decades having passed since his prime with the Chicago Bulls, MJ's influence is still impossible to miss. His voice continues to carry weight, as Simmons's reaction to Jordan 's debut as a "special contributor" for NBC's NBA coverage made clear.

NBA legend Allen Iverson appeared on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss the league's return to NBC, and he took some time to pay homage to Michael Jordan, who is now a guest analyst for the network's basketball coverage.