NBA Fans Rejoice During NBC’s Impressive Return to Basketball: ‘How Are We Ever Supposed to Go Back?’
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NBC was widely praised for its presentation of the NBA’s opening night as the network returned to broadcasting games for the first time in decades.
After months of anticipation following a tumultuous NBA media rights negotiation process, the NBA finally returned to NBC on Tuesday night. The first game of the season was between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets; and that game was followed up by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors.
Hours before the game, the stage was set with a video encapsulating what the network would be bringing to the table: a hint of nostalgia while still celebrating the star’s of today’s game.
The videos starts with today’s stars being asked what memories come to mind when they hear “the NBA on NBC.” Many of them simply laughed and explained that they weren’t even born when NBC carried games. Then, some of the game’s past greats — including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Reggie Miller — talked about “genuine love for the game,” and not being concerned with petty debates over which era was the greatest. Also included were some all-time greats at the tail end of their careers: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry.
As noted by others who watched the pre-game festivities, NBC’s presentation helped make the game feel like a must-see event. This included detailed analysis without the need to fire off hot takes or push narratives, showing the introductions of the teams’ starting lineups, and a dramatic opening monologue.
NBC continued that trend at halftime with the debut of MJ: Insight to Excellence — a segment that has Jordan discussing today’s game and his view on it. Instead of proclaiming that today’s players are entitled and that his era was much more competitive, Jordan spoke of his “obligation to pay it forward” and pass on his love for the sport.
By the end of the night, it seemed social media had reached a consensus that NBC’s offerings were a much-needed improvement over ESPN’s.
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