Mike Tirico
ON THE RECORD · 6 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“I think Michael Jordan hadn’t been on TV for a long time for a reason,”
Mike Tirico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico explained that the interview segments provided an authentic view of Jordan's personality and his distance from daily NBA discourse.
“I will say that it was damn cool to hang with MJ and talk basketball, and talk business and golf and all that other stuff,”
Mike Tirico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico said he would eagerly welcome Jordan back for another sit-down interview regardless of the subject matter.
“He likes being Michael Jordan. Even still, when he’s on camera, there’s an aura about Michael Jordan that is just different. Sitting across from him. It’s just a different feel. I think he is above the daily discourse of, ‘Hey, who is the best point guard in the NBA right now?’ and ‘who’s the best this or the best that?’”
Mike Tirico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico explained that the interview segments provided an authentic view of Jordan's personality and his distance from daily NBA discourse.
“And people are still asking about it. Which, to me, is all the reason that it was completely worth it.”
Mike Tirico · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico defended NBC's decision to air a single interview with Michael Jordan spread across pregame shows during the 2025-26 NBA season.
“I love the fact that we did one interview —and you can say what you want about it airing once or being spread out over our series of pregame shows during the year— it’s a year later and people are still talking about it,”
Mike Tirico · said 2026-10-13 · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico defended NBC's decision to air a single interview with Michael Jordan spread across pregame shows during the 2025-26 NBA season.
“If he wanted to be— we would all run to have him on every single day. But that’s just not what he wants to do, I think, at this point in his career and life.”
Mike Tirico · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-14
Tirico said he would eagerly welcome Jordan back for another sit-down interview regardless of the subject matter.