Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan made his debut as a special contributor to NBC Sports on Tuesday night. However, former sports columnist Jason Whitlock expressed his disappointment with Jordan’s performance the following day.
Whitlock shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, “Jason Whitlock.” Starting at 5:29 in the video, he said, “I’m just going to warm you up here. I’m going to start by being the person bold enough to go on record that the 3 minutes and 30 seconds that Michael Jordan appeared on their halftime show was not some raging success.”
He continued, “It wasn’t some special moment that, you know, we should all be relishing. Everybody’s afraid of Michael Jordan, and so everybody just says nice glowing things. We must treat him as an idol. I just can’t do it. And I’ve never been able to do it.”
NBC recently returned to broadcasting NBA league games for the first time since 2002. The network announced that Jordan will join their coverage as a “special contributor” starting with the 2025-26 season.
In the debut edition of his segment, “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” Jordan spoke with NBC’s lead play-by-play commentator Mike Tirico about why he decided to join the network.
“To pay it forward,” Jordan said. “I have an obligation to the game of basketball, not financially. I’m okay. I think more or less, as a basketball player, you should be able to pass on messages of success and dedication to the game of basketball. As professional athletes, we have an obligation to pay it forward. That’s part of what this is all about, to pay it forward.”
Jordan added that since retiring, he has spent more time with his family. Fans can also look forward to learning more about his legendary career in his new segment.
In a surprising admission during the segment, Jordan revealed that he “hasn’t picked up a ball in years.” He added, “When I stepped up to shoot the free throw, it was the most nervous I’ve been in years.”
Widely regarded as the NBA’s Greatest of All Time (GOAT), Michael Jordan won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and played a significant role in popularizing basketball globally.
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**About the Author**
Ubong Richard Archibong is an NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda with over a year of experience. An avid LA Lakers fan, Ubong grew up watching Kobe Bryant embody his “Mamba Mentality.” His admiration for the Lakers intensified when LeBron James joined the team from Cleveland.
Apart from LeBron, Ubong admires players like Anthony Edwards, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and coach Phil Jackson. Outside basketball, he is a Chelsea football club fan and enjoys traveling and volunteering.
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