Back in May 2025 NBA legend Michael Jordan signed a $40 million a year contract with NBC to become a “special contributor” for NBA coverage.
“A legendary addition to our team! We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the NBA on NBC and Peacock,” NBC announced in a post on X.
It was the first time Jordan, 63, had ever covered the NBA as a contributor.
Now it’s being reported that Jordan and NBC have parted ways.
According to Underdog NBA’s X post, the six-time champion will not return to NBC in 2027.
In exchange for $40 million, Jordan taped exactly one interview for NBC.
NBC split the interview into five short segments to make it worth their $40 million.
Jordan was obviously only in it for the money. Reports claimed that the 14-time NBA All-Star lost $500 million as a result of “shorting” GameStop stocks in 2020 or 2021.
He reportedly sold off his stake in the Charlotte Hornets for a reported $3 billion to pay off his gambling debts.
NBA legend Charles Barkley previously criticized the deal earlier this year, calling it “a bad look for NBC and saying it’s just a bad look, plain and simple” during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Others commenting on Jordan’s quick exit include LeBron James’ friend and podcaster @CuffstheLegend. The Jordan critic mocked the Chicago Bulls very brief broadcasting career.
@CuffstheLegend wrote: “Cigar Lungs and NBC really scammed us and had us thinking Mike was about to give us weekly basketball analysis and hoops talk on the couch.. and they gave us one interview chopped up into 17 mini pieces LMAOOO.”
Cigar Lungs & NBC really scammed us and had us thinking Mike was about to give us weekly basketball analysis and hoops talk on the couch.. and they gave us one interview chopped up into 17 mini pieces LMAOOO https://t.co/qbTj112wf8
— 73-9 and THEY LIED (@CuffsTheLegend) August 26, 2026