Many fans feel like nature is healing with Mike Tirico calling NBA games again.
“NBA on NBC” officially returned on Tuesday night with the 2025-26 season opener between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. The veteran broadcaster Tirico did play-by-play for the contest, having previously been named NBC’s lead voice for their return to NBA game coverage.
Fans all said the same thing about Tirico on X while he was calling Tuesday’s game — that it was great to have him back doing the NBA.
NBA on NBC intro with Mike Tirico on the call this is beautiful pic.twitter.com/8vsSVz0KXA
— joe (@wwfcjoe_) October 21, 2025
Mike Tirico on play by play for NBA Opening night pic.twitter.com/Fodhad87Pa
— Max Loeb (@loebsleads) October 21, 2025
Mike tirico back pic.twitter.com/ntS2LmTZ5d
— (@hyattwatcher) October 21, 2025
Mike Tirico doing basketball is just right
— Aligned RB (@RyB_311) October 21, 2025
Mike Tirico calling NBA games pic.twitter.com/IoGzHVrLVB
— Devon (@ItssDevvv) October 21, 2025
Tirico, 58, used to call NBA games for ESPN from 2002-16. He provided plenty of iconic calls over the years, including LeBron James’ dunk on Jason Terry in 2013, Damian Lillard’s playoff series winner against Houston in 2014, and Kobe Bryant dropping 60 during his final NBA game in 2016. But Tirico’s run calling the NBA took a lengthy hiatus when he left ESPN to join NBC in 2016.
After nearly a decade though, Tirico is back doing NBA game broadcasts once again. Though the return Tuesday of “NBA on NBC” did not come without some hiccups, Tirico’s presence is clearly something that basketball fans are welcoming with open arms.
