News - Barkley Criticizes NBC for Not Using Jordan Enough in NBA Coverage

The 2025-26 NBA season marked a momentous return to NBC, rekindling nostalgic memories of past basketball broadcasts. A significant draw to this revival was the incorporation of NBA icon Michael Jordan, whose legendary stature as a Chicago Bulls player brought immense excitement among fans worldwide. Upon his debut, Jordan's specific duties were not widely clear, as NBC had recruited multiple former basketball stars to enrich their analyst panel, contributing pre and post-game insights. However, Jordan's assignment was distinctly unique. Engaging in exclusive interviews with seasoned sportscaster Mike Tirico, Jordan's segments were artfully designed to air during halftime, providing his esteemed perspective on the contemporary NBA landscape. Despite the allure of having Jordan's commentary during these intermissions, some anticipated a more expansive role for the former player. NBA Hall of Famer and Jordan's longtime friend, Charles Barkley, emerged as a vocal critic, expressing disappointment at NBC's decision to restrict Jordan's involvement to brief interview clips rather than fully capitalizing on his unmatched basketball acumen. Barkley voiced his sentiments, emphasizing that a personalized half-time dialogue was insufficient to leverage Jordan’s potential influence and expertise, which could have greatly enriched the viewers' experience. The public feedback underscores the expectation that broadcasters should leverage such legendary figures to enhance not only entertainment but also in-depth analysis for the audience, positioning Jordan in a more interactive and recurrent role beyond halftime snippets.