High Expectations In Place for NBA’s Return to NBC

When you think of Michael Jordan, you can’t help but think of NBC Marv Albert’s famous “Oh, a Spec-TAC-ular move by Michael Jordan” call during the 1991 NBA Finals. It left a lasting impact, as Jordan made an unfathomable mid-air hand switch that has since been shown a million times.

NBC was the flagship station of the NBA Finals from 1990 to 2002, and it swept America away. Its famous intro music by John Tesh is still stuck in our heads, and we are eagerly awaiting hearing it again as the NBA returns to NBC for the first time in 23 years.

But with great memories come high expectations. Marv Albert is no longer around. Ahmad Rashad has since retired. There will be no Bill Walton, Mike Fratello, or Doug Collins, voices that synchronized perfectly alongside Albert’s. NBC is also moving on without Bob Costas. Instead, it will be a brand new lineup that includes a mixture of veterans and newcomers. More than anything, they hope to find consistency, something that ESPN has struggled with as they have been playing musical chairs with their lineups.

NBC chose the perfect voice to head its premier team. Mike Tirico is one of the most respected voices in television, having notoriously covered the Olympics, major golf events, and Sunday Night Football on NBC. He will work alongside Reggie Miller, who has been a TNT analyst for 20 years, and Jamal Crawford, and a fresher face who just recently got into the broadcasting world.

Leading NBC’s studio team will be Maria Taylor, who is best known for having the same role with Sunday Night Football. In the studio with Taylor will be former players Carmelo Anthony, Tracy McGrady, and Vince Carter, with Jordan also expected to be a special contributor. 

Filling out the rest of the NBC announce team will be announcers Terry Gannon, Michael Grady, and Noah Eagle; and analysts Grant Hill, Brad Daughtery, Derek Fisher, Brian Scalabrine, Austin Rivers, and Robbie Hummel.

With all the star power, NBC believes it can rediscover the magic it created more than 20 years ago. Tirico and Miller are masters at their job and should instantly find chemistry together. While NBC is not slated to cover the NBA Finals, they, along with the streaming service Peacock, are scheduled to cover 100 regular-season contests, the All-Star Game, and postseason showdowns.

The NBA on NBC will kick the season off on Opening Night, October 21, with a clash between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets.