NBA Fans React to Michael Jordan’s First Appearance on NBC

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There were some mix reactions to Michael Jordan’s first appearance on NBC for his new bit ‘Insights To Excellence’.

The first instalment debuted at halftime of Rockets-Thunder on Tuesday night on Opening Night.

NBC ran a three minute and 20 second interview, which started with Mike Tirico straight up asking Michael Jordan why he was doing the new segment.

“We have an obligation to pay it forward. That’s part of what this is all about.”

Watch Michael Jordan’s first conversation with Mike Tirico in the first edition of MJ: Insights To Excellence. pic.twitter.com/7tfzGm6SpM

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 22, 2025

MJ made it clear it wasn’t about the money, as we all know he has plenty of that.

It’s more about paying it forward.

“To pay it forward,” he said. “I had the obligation to basketball.”

It’s clear his love of the game has not been lost after all these years.

“I wish I could take a magic pill, put on shorts and go out and play the game of basketball today because that’s who I am,” Jordan said. “That type of competition… competitiveness… is what I live for. And I miss it.”

One question many fans have wondered was addressed in this first instalment: What does the Bulls legend do now that’s he away from the basketball spotlight?

“You never really know when you’re in the prime of your career how much time you really do not have for family,” Jordan said on NBC. “That’s what I have time to do now. The most valuable asset I have is time. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me…”

They had Michael Jordan up there talking bout free throws.. l thought bro was about to give us a parlay lock pic.twitter.com/4qZBuISX8T

— ᴱᴸᴵᴶᴬᴴ 🎯 (@Eesus_Christ) October 22, 2025

Fans on X had mixed reactions to the new piece.

Some of the best are below:

Is NBC just going to use one Michael Jordan interview for the whole season? pic.twitter.com/BOvKoQPOGy

— Toheed (@_toheed_a) October 22, 2025

“Have you picked up a basketball since you retired?”

Michael Jordan: pic.twitter.com/ICmNjx87e6

— santana grant (@santagclaus_) October 22, 2025

Michael Jordan just said on NBC he wishes he could take a magic pill that would take him back to his playing days. I wish I could take one to take ME back to those days and nights writing and talking about Jordan’s Bulls. Never experienced anything like that, before or since.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 22, 2025

Listening to Michael Jordan talk basketball on my television right now pic.twitter.com/QPPHD6vDtQ

— Davey (@Daveydelphia76) October 22, 2025

They had Michael Jordan up there talking bout free throws.. l thought bro was about to give us a parlay lock pic.twitter.com/4qZBuISX8T

— ᴱᴸᴵᴶᴬᴴ 🎯 (@Eesus_Christ) October 22, 2025

NBC is going to microdose a single Michael Jordan interview for the ENTIRE season pic.twitter.com/5rxDbyqnoJ

— kevikev (@KevCoke6) October 22, 2025

I thought they got Michael Jordan to comment on the game at half time, but he’s talking about his vibes pic.twitter.com/NagpxqqLdd

— Russ’ TD ⚡ (@RussFcb) October 22, 2025