"This season, NBC is broadcasting the NBA for the first time since 2002, which has led the network to try and capture a very specific sort of Gen-X nostalgia for the mid-'90s."
"To do so, it brought back two legends of the era: John Tesh, whose "Roundball Rock" is so ingrained in the culture that it's responsible for Tim Robinson's single greatest Saturday Night Live moment, and, of course, Michael Jordan."
"The segments, which are never tied to the news and seem to have all been taped in one preseason session, feature Jordan, in his words, "paying it forward," passing down his vast knowledge to a new generation of fans."
"I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like the fans are there that watch me play."
NBC returned to broadcasting the NBA this season for the first time since 2002 and leaned into mid‑1990s Gen‑X nostalgia. The network revived John Tesh's "Roundball Rock" and enlisted Michael Jordan for prerecorded halftime features titled "MJ: Insights to Excellence." The segments were taped in preseason and framed as Jordan "paying it forward," sharing his knowledge with newer fans. The appearances are largely prerecorded interviews that often critique contemporary practices, particularly dismissing load management and emphasizing playing through games for fans. Jordan's involvement continues his pattern of selective, high‑profile media appearances and maintains his cultural influence.
Read at Intelligencer
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