Charles Barkley reveals thoughts on Michael Jordan's addition to NBC's NBA coverage
Charles Barkley reveals thoughts on Michael Jordan's addition to NBC's NBA coverage The Auburn legend says that he was "shocked" to learn of MJ's addition to NBC's NBA coverage.
NBC inked a new broadcast rights deal with the NBA last July, and is looking to make a splash in its coverage by adding an NBA legend to its broadcast team.
Earlier this month, NBC announced that six-time NBA champion and five-time Most Valuable Player Michael Jordan will join the broadcast team as a "special contributor." How exactly will MJ contribute to NBC's NBA coverage? Fellow NBA Hall-of-Famer and Auburn legend Charles Barkley weighed in on the subject during a recent episode of Spittin' Chiclets podcast from Barstool Sports.
Barkley was admittedly caught off guard by NBC's decision to hire Jordan, and feels that NBA on NBC fans may not see as much of Jordan as expected in this chapter of the sport's broadcast coverage.
'I have no idea what Michael is going to do. I don't think he's gonna do a lot,' Barkley said. 'I know he's not gonna do a lot. I was 100% shocked, but I don't think he's gonna do a lot. Period.'
Jordan's addition to NBC's coverage was announced on May 12. He will join several former NBA players, including Reggie Miller, Carmelo Anthony, and Jamal Crawford, as part of the new broadcast deal, with legendary broadcasters Noah Eagle and Mike Tirico joining the mix. In a statement, Jordan says that he is excited to join the team.
'I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,' Jordan said. '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.'
Barkley turned down the offer to join NBC's NBA coverage due to the expected workload he would take on outside of NBA coverage.
'I got a firm offer from NBC. I like NBC because my old boss, Mark Lazarus, hired me at Turner. But they had too much stuff for me to do," Barkley said in an interview with Sports Illustrated. "They started out two nights a week, then when football's over, they went to three nights a week. Then they have the Kentucky Derby, they had the Olympics. I was like, yeah, that's not gonna happen. Even though they offered me more money, it wasn't worth it for me from a work standpoint.'
However, Barkley may stay with "Inside the NBA" with fellow former TNT co-hosts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and host Ernie Johnson, that will transition from TNT to ESPN.
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