Mike Tirico Named NBC’s Lead Play-by-Play Announcer for NBA Coverage
Mike Tirico has been appointed as NBC’s lead play-by-play announcer when the network starts its NBA coverage next season.
NBC’s Partnership with the NBA
This decision was expected after NBC signed an 11-year contract with the NBA last summer. Tirico had been part of ESPN and ABC’s NBA coverage until he joined NBC in 2016. He also called six NBA Finals for ESPN Radio. According to the 506 Sports Archive, Tirico called 313 NBA regular-season and playoff games on ESPN and ABC.
Busy Schedule for Tirico
From September through May 2026, Tirico will have a packed schedule. He will continue calling the “Sunday Night Football” package, including Super Bowl 60, and serve as NBC’s prime-time host for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Tirico’s Excitement for NBA Coverage
Tirico shared his excitement about his new role, saying, “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.”
NBC’s NBA Broadcast Plans
NBC, which aired NBA games from 1990 to 2002, will broadcast up to 100 regular-season games, including Sunday night games after the NFL season ends. It will also show games on Tuesdays during the regular season, while a Monday night doubleheader will be streamed exclusively on Peacock. NBC will also cover the All-Star Game and All-Star Saturday Night.
During the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will air up to 28 games in the first two rounds, with at least half of them on NBC. The network will also carry one of the two conference finals for six of the 11 years of the deal.
NBC’s Growing NBA Coverage Team
With the All-Star Game approaching, NBC, ESPN/ABC, and Prime Video are expected to make more announcements for their NBA coverage teams. NBC has already named Jamal Crawford as a game analyst and Frank DiGraci as coordinating producer. Prime Video has added Taylor Rooks, Blake Griffin, and Dirk Nowitzki to its studio show.
NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood mentioned, “It’s been a fun challenge putting the puzzle pieces together to create a new team for one of the most exciting launches in our company’s history.”
