During their playing days, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns legend Charles Barkley were among each other’s top on-court rivals.
But years into retirement, the two former NBA MVPs are set to go head-to-head again.
Barkley is already one of the top NBA analysts in the industry. He’s part of the four-person panel along with four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith of popular show “Inside the NBA,” which is a TNT show but will air on ESPN at the start of the 2025 season.
He’s also among the highest paid in his profession after signing a 10-year, $210 million contract with TNT last August.
And now Jordan, who’s made billions of dollars from selling his ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets plus his lucrative partnerships with Nik (and his Jordan brand), Gatorade, Hanes and other successful companies, is stepping into Barkley’s world after agreeing to join NBC as a “special contributor” in 2025 when the network begins broadcasting games.
Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan and Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley face off in the 1993 NBA Finals.Rob Schumacher/The Republic via Imagn Images
Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan and Phoenix Suns forward Charles Barkley face off in the 1993 NBA Finals. Rob Schumacher/The Republic via Imagn Images
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Barkley shared his thoughts on Jordan entering into the world of sports broadcasting and opened up on if there’s still a friendly rivalry between the two Hall of Famers.
“I'm glad to have him back, it's going to be fun watching him,” Barkley said. “… We ain't rivals. We're all promoting the same sport. And that's the good thing about it. We're not in competition. We're both trying to make sure the game grows. I'm glad to have him back.”
Jordan will join NBC’s new star-studded NBA lineup, which features plenty of former star players. Carmelo Anthony will serve as a studio analyst for the network, while Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller will serve as game analysts.
NBC is pulling out all the stops for its first season broadcasting NBA games (regular season and postseason) as part of an 11-year deal announced last year that also allows the network to air WNBA regular-season and playoff games as well.
Peacock will also have exclusive streaming rights for national Monday night games, and both Peacock and NBC will provide national coverage of regional doubleheaders on Tuesdays. A “Sunday Night Basketball” show is even in the works for NBC Sports.
“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan said in a statement back in May. “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.”