Michael Jordan got emotional for a moment during his new segment on the revived “NBA on NBC” on Tuesday night.
NBC aired the first segment of its debut series, called “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” centered on the Chicago Bulls legend having an honest conversation with veteran broadcaster Mike Tirico.
One line in particular caught the attention of a lot of hoops fans, particularly those who are old enough to remember Jordan as a player rather than a brand.
Tirico asked MJ if he “still loves” the game of basketball. The six-time NBA champion gave a wistful response after being away from NBA competition for over two decades.
“Love it like you wouldn’t believe,” Jordan answered. “In all honesty, 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. That type of competition, that type of competitiveness, is what I live for. And I miss it.
“I miss that aspect of playing the game of basketball. Being able to challenge myself against what people see as great basketball. But, it’s better for me to be sitting here, talking to you, as opposed to popping my Achilles and being in a wheelchair for a while.”
Michael Jordan talking ball in 2025.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 22, 2025
The GOAT.pic.twitter.com/spMWsuUQBK
When asked during the interview about why he was opening up to talk basketball again, Jordan said it was his “obligation” as an ambassador of the game. He wanted to “pay it forward” to the sport’s new standard-bearers.
The news that MJ was working with NBC was announced earlier this year, leading to speculation about his exact role with the broadcasting giant.
Not everyone was a fan of the interview. Many fans were already foreseeing NBC milking MJ’s interview throughout the entirety of the season. But Jordan’s admission undeniably came with a vulnerability rarely shown by arguably the game’s greatest player of all time.
The news that Jordan was working with NBC was announced earlier this year, leading to speculation about his exact role with the broadcasting giant.
