NBA's Return to NBC: A Mix of Nostalgia and New Challenges

The NBA's comeback to NBC brought back old memories and introduced new faces. The opening night game between the Thunder and Rockets went into double overtime, making it a thrilling start. The broadcast kicked off with John Tesh's "Roundball Rock, " a tune that's both catchy and nostalgic. NBC did a good job of bringing back the feel of its old broadcasts. They showed the starting lineups and the national anthem, just like they used to. But not everything was perfect. Using AI to recreate the voice of the late Jim Fagan felt off. Fagan's voice was unique and full of life, and the AI version just didn't capture that. The pregame show had some technical hiccups. Maria Taylor and Tracy McGrady had microphone issues, and Carmelo Anthony seemed a bit unsure. But Mike Tirico, who called the game with Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford, was smooth as always. Michael Jordan made his debut as a special contributor. He sat down with Tirico for a segment called "MJ: Insights to Excellence. " It was a short interview, but anything Jordan says is interesting because he's such a private person. ESPN kept "Inside The NBA" mostly the same, which is good news. It's one of the best studio shows in sports history. Meanwhile, Amazon Prime's debut with the Celtics-Knicks game was a bit rocky. Their studio show is still finding its footing. Cassidy Hubbarth did a great job interviewing NBA commissioner Adam Silver during the game. She asked tough questions about the betting scandal, and Silver seemed a bit caught off guard.