Michael Jordan, the NBA legend, recently came up in the news after NBC announced its partnership. Jordan is set to become a special contributor to NBC’s upcoming coverage of the NBA. Throughout his career, Jordan has usually stayed away from taking up any media roles. Therefore, this news came as a shock to every NBA fan.
Nick Wright, the sports analyst for Fox News, went on his podcast to address his opinion on this news about MJ. He faked his enthusiasm and sarcastically expressed his delight to see Jordan join NBC. Until he ended his message with a shot at Jordan’s history with gambling.
Wright said, “Michael Jordan’s going to join NBC as a contributor… NBC is a different network, but fair is fair, I got to give credit where it’s due. I mean, if they’re going to use him the way he should be used, that is going to be an unbelievable addition. And by that I mean, he should be their gambling expert.”
Jordan’s gambling history has been well documented. Conspiracy theorists even believed that gambling had a role in Jordan’s second retirement, saying the league suspended him for gambling and disguised it as a retirement. Jordan has clarified that it wasn’t true.
Moreover, even the feds were involved in a case with Michael Jordan, who admitted he gave a $57,000 check to a suspected drug dealer over gambling losses. Therefore, Wright mentioning that Jordan should be a gambling expert is a direct shot at his controversial history with gambling.
What Michael Jordan Said About This Partnership And What It Means For NBA Media
After the news was announced about Jordan’s return to the NBA through NBC, Jordan expressed his opinion on the partnership. He said, “I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC. The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project. I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October.”
Major controversy ensued when a conglomerate of Disney, NBC, and Amazon outbid Turner Sports to take over NBA coverage at the end of this season. Initially, it meant the end of the ‘Inside the NBA’ show with hosts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley. However, the NBA struck a deal with Disney that allowed the production of this show to continue under ABC and NBC distribution platforms.
With such a star-studded cast of sports analysts on TV, the potential of additionally seeing Michael Jordan regularly on NBC is an exciting prospect for every NBA fan. He will bring a unique outlook to the sport that can help a younger generation improve their game tremendously. While his role is not confirmed beyond a “special contributor”, we anticipate it will involve multiple public appearances on TV for Jordan.
