Why is Michael Jordan bidding farewell to his lucrative $40 million-a-year deal? All about the NBA upset

There will not be any debate around the fact that the end of Michael Jordan’s NBC role as an analyst is going to be a major upset for the fans worldwide. Regardless, MJ is reportedly not coming back to the role. While the contract was quite lucrative with a whopping $40 million a year attached to the deal, we all need to question, does Jordan need more money? For context, Jordan is the wealthiest athlete in the world with over a staggering $4.3 billion net worth to his name, according to Forbes. But what’s actually going on and what’s the real reason behind Jordan’s reported decision.Why Michael Jordan won't return for NBC's $40 million NBA dealMichael Jordan appears to be done with NBC. Multiple reports this week point to the NBA legend skipping a second season with the network, ending a run that once looked like the year's biggest broadcasting coup.The move comes after Jordan signed on last year for a reported $40 million a year as a special contributor to NBC's NBA coverage. What changed between that splashy announcement and now is a story of high expectations, thin output, and a legend who has never liked talking much anyway.Michael Jordan reportedly not returning to NBC's NBA coverageAccording to Front Office Sports, Jordan is unlikely to be part of NBC's basketball coverage for the 2026-27 season. The Daily Mail reached out to NBC for comment and did not hear back.Jordan's addition to the network last May was billed as a coup, since he had barely appeared on camera since The Last Dance aired in 2020. Fans expected regular appearances and sharp analysis throughout the season. Instead, Jordan sat down with host Mike Tirico just once. The single conversation got split into five segments and rolled out across several weeks of the campaign, which left part of the audience unimpressed.Some fans and analysts felt shortchanged. They wanted more from a name as big as Jordan's, and five scattered clips over months did not match the buildup.Why Michael Jordan is not coming back to NBCTirico pushed back hard against the criticism. He pointed out that Jordan has never been much of a talker, and noted Jordan's ownership stake in the Charlotte Hornets and his role at Jordan Brand as reasons his time is stretched thin. According to Tirico, Jordan wanted to focus specifically on where he sees the state of the league right now, not run through a long list of topics.Jordan reportedly used part of that conversation to question whether today's highest paid stars love the game as much as his generation did. Tirico defended the format anyway: "Was it better than not hearing from Michael Jordan? You're damn right it was."He added that hearing Jordan's take as the greatest player of all time carries a weight that a hundred hot takes about a single injury never will.Backlash puts NBC's marquee hire in questionNot everyone bought the defense. Charles Barkley, never shy with an opinion, put it plainly: "It's a bad look for NBC." The comment stuck, and it captured a frustration that had been building since the deal was first announced.Front Office Sports did not report an official reason behind the expected exit. That silence leaves room for speculation about whether the split was Jordan's call, the network's, or something both sides worked out quietly and would rather not detail.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.