As Michael Jordan’s Pre-Recorded NBC Segments Air, An Ex-Teammate Weighs In On Why He Won’t Become A Live Commentator

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With NBC and Peacock returning to NBA coverage in 2025, they’ve assembled a strong on-air team, including Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter. A surprising addition was Michael Jordan, brought on as a special contributor. It was later clarified that Jordan wouldn’t be providing live game commentary, but rather appearing in pre-recorded segments filmed from a single interview. Now, one of Jordan’s former teammates is sharing their thoughts on this role.

Randy Brown, who played alongside Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls from 1995 to 2000, knows firsthand just how talented Jordan was. During their time together, the Bulls achieved a second three-peat championship. Speaking with EsportsBets, the former point guard expressed his strong respect for Jordan. Brown also explained why he understands Jordan’s decision not to pursue a career as a live sports commentator.

Look, Michael’s perfectly comfortable discussing the game itself and its future, but honestly, he just doesn’t have it in him to really criticize a young player – and frankly, it wouldn’t be productive if he did. What I do find interesting is how often players mention having private conversations with him, off-camera. It feels genuine and personal. I really don’t see him ever becoming a consistent critic of the current generation of players; it’s just not who he is.

More on Michael Jordan

Look, as someone who’s watched a lot of basketball, and especially the Bulls dynasty, it’s genuinely sad to see Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen at odds. I recently spoke with a former teammate of theirs, and he made it clear: he’s not giving up on them patching things up. He really believes they need to reconcile, and he’s actively hoping they’ll find a way to move past whatever’s driving this feud. It’s a plea from someone who witnessed their greatness firsthand, and honestly, it’s hard not to agree with him – they deserve to end things on a better note.

I’ll admit, at first I was hoping Michael Jordan would appear as a regular commentator for NBC. But as we learned more about his role, it became clear that wasn’t going to happen. Honestly, it makes sense—he’s a very busy businessman. And as another analyst pointed out, Jordan’s insights might be more valuable when discussing basketball in general, rather than breaking down individual games.

Currently available is a series called MJ: Insights to Excellence, which is shown periodically on TV and for Peacock subscribers. The segments come from a longer interview NBC’s Mike Tirico did with Michael Jordan and feature him discussing topics related to the NBA and his career, such as player rest and what drives him. Randy Brown has been impressed with what he’s seen so far.

It’s great to have him back on television! I really enjoy hearing his thoughts on his career and the game. I always figured he’d eventually return to the sport in some capacity, but I didn’t expect him to become a commentator, analyzing the current game and players. It’s fantastic to see him involved at this level. The NBA definitely benefits from having Michael Jordan’s presence, and his perspective is valuable for growing the league. I’m always happy to see him on TV and appreciate his insightful commentary.

Unlike some other former players offering their opinions, Insights to Excellence is starting to become popular. In the latest episode on December 2nd, the star of Space Jam discussed why players should focus on loving the game itself, rather than just building a personal brand. You can find it here:

Michael Jordan isn’t challenging Charles Barkley as a broadcaster, but NBC has found a good role for him that seems to suit him well. I’m interested to see what the basketball legend has to say as the season progresses.

NBA coverage on NBC starts with “Coast 2 Coast Tuesday” on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Eastern. Once the NFL season is over, fans can also watch “Sunday Night Basketball.”

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2025-12-04 14:38