NBC’s Return to the NBA: A Bumpy Start

NBC made its long-awaited return to the NBA after a two-decade absence, but the beginning had its hiccups.

The initial moments of their coverage on Tuesday night were marked by a frantic scramble to adjust a microphone suffering from audio issues. This, in turn, set the stage for a playful yet chaotic game of “Pass the Mic” among host Malia Taylor and analysts Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.

As the pregame show, NBA Showtime, kicked off for the Thunder-Rockets matchup, McGrady encountered sound issues almost immediately. He struggled to hear Taylor, and strange crackling noises disrupted the broadcast. Frustratingly for viewers, his comments were inaudible. Eventually, in a clever move, Carter traded his microphone with McGrady, allowing for clearer commentary.

Despite this, the audio issues were not quite over. Shortly after, Taylor received yet another microphone from someone off-screen, which she handed to McGrady. Yet, it wasn’t long before Taylor’s new microphone also malfunctioned while she was trying to steer the conversation.

When Anthony’s microphone cut out too, Taylor humorously took a jab at it, playfully saying, “No, my mic isn’t dead either.” The group shared a laugh, and McGrady reassured fans that they’d handle the minor technical glitches.

“Hey, this is the first night, so it’s not going to be perfect, NBC Family. We’re going to do it right,” McGrady stated, echoing Taylor’s sentiment.

Thankfully, the technical troubles eased after the first commercial break, and the show avoided further audio mishaps.

This Tuesday marked the NBA’s return to NBC for the first time since 2002. The network has secured an 11-year media rights deal, worth approximately $2.5 billion per season, which will bring NBA broadcasts back into homes across the nation.