Michael Jordan's Debut For The 'NBA On NBC' Was Awesome And Further Proof That NBC Is Already Dominating Their NBA Coverage

Brian Drake. Getty Images.

Let me begin this blog by stating how incredible the NBA on NBC debut has been. Every single part of it has been a homerun. The hype leading into it, the pregame, the official entry with the lasers and Roundball Rock, the broadcast, it's all been even better than I could have hoped for. Not to be dramatic, but the entire experience makes me feel like we all collectively teleported back to the 90s. Games feel "big" again, that's the best way I could describe what we've see so far, and it's only Game 1!

In addition to all that, one thing I couldn't wait to see was the plan for Michael Jordan. Cris Collinsworth gave us a little bit of a preview, but when we got our first look during SNF and saw that it was going to be a sitdown interview with Mike Tirico, I got even more excited. Even though part of me wishes he was a part of things live, I get it. It's Michael Jordan. So how was it?

Some fluff here and there, but really if we're being honest, the whole segment I just kept repeating to myself

"holy shit, Michael Jordan is back on my TV talking basketball"

and that's all I really cared about. His story was fun, and frankly, for a halftime spot that's all I'm looking for. Get in, get out, and give me an entertaining moment or two. I'd MUCH rather listen to MJ tell whatever stories he wants than whatever the hell ESPN has forced us to watch for the last decade. Even if it's a throwaway completely scripted story or whatever you may want to say, it's still MJ talking basketball in any capacity, which I'm personally in favor of. I'm sure we'll get to more of the basketball stuff at some point, so in the meantime, kill the crowd with a funny story that gives them a look inside what life is like to live as Michael Jordan, and that's all you need to have me hooked as a viewer

Granted, there was a 0.0% chance I wasn't going to love whatever this segment ended up being, so perhaps I'm just so drunk off nostalgia that I'm completely reading this wrong, but I liked that first MJ segment. I found it surprising he's basically never touched a ball in years, and it's definitely the most open we've heard him be since The Last Dance. At the very least, I'm looking forward to the next one, which I have to credit NBC. You have me by the balls. The way they've crushed Opening Night has me excited for the season, and man does it feel great to be back.