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Mike Tirico Will Lead NBC’s New NBA Coverage

brian steinberg
·2 min read

Mike Tirico is quickly becoming a sportscaster for all seasons at NBC.

The veteran, who currently leads play by play for “Sunday Night Football” and hosts primetime coverage of the Olympics, will soon take a sizable role when NBC gains rights to the NBA next fall. He is expected to work one or more games per week once NBC Sports’ coverage of the NFL and Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games conclude in February 2026. He will call select games prior to that time, including the NBA season opener in October 2025.

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NBC starts a new 11-season pact with the NBA in the fall, a deal that will have the broadcast network or its Peacock streaming counterpart airing three consecutive nights of coverage per week.

Tirico is no stranger to professional basketball, calling about 375 regular-season and playoff games from 2002 to 2016 for ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Radio. Between 2003 and 2005, Tirico was the main studio host for ESPN’s coverage, including the NBA Finals.

“We are excited that Big Event Mike Tirico will be returning to his courtside seat as the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock,” said Sam Flood, executive producer, NBC Sports, in a statement. “From the Olympics to Sunday Night Football to major golf championships and now the NBA, Mike is the most versatile voice in sports.”

NBCUniversal is believed to be spending as much as an estimated $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion a year under terms of an 11-year deal that gives it the chance to air 100 regular-season games; the NBA All-Star Game; and a passel of exclusive first-round playoff games. WNBA games will also be a part of the package. In a sign of how much NBC wanted this sports deal, the company is paying more for NBA games than it is for its current NFL package, according to estimates from the independent analysis firm MoffettNathanson.

NBC has wasted little time in getting its own team assembled for its NBA coverage. Earlier this month, the NBC Sports named Jamal Crawford, a 20-season basketball veteran, as a game analyst. Frank DiGraci, a veteran of producing Nets games for YES, has been named coordinating producer of NBA telecasts.

“I could not be more thrilled about returning courtside to call NBA games,” said Tirico, in a statement. “My 15 years of chronicling the best basketball players in the world still stands as one of the highlights of my career. Like so many others, my love of the league took hold during the unforgettable days of the NBA on NBC back in the ’90s. The chance to be a part of the team bringing that iconic partnership back to life has us incredibly excited.”

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