Veteran NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico is returning to the NBA. Tirico, the voice of NBA games for 15 seasons for ESPN from 2002-2016, has been tapped to lead NBC Sports’ NBA coverage for the 2025-26 season.

“I could not be more thrilled about returning courtside to call NBA games,” said Tirico. “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.”

Tirico is the voice of NBC Sports’ biggest events, including as its Olympics primetime host and play-by-play annoucer for Sunday Night Football. Since joining NBC Sports in 2016, Tirico has also hosted or called events such as the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final, U.S. Olympic Team Trials, golf’s U.S. Open, Open Championship, The Players and Tour Championship, among others.

NBC enters a new 11-season deal with the NBA in the fall. Tirico is expected to work one or more games per week once NBC Sports’ coverage of the NFL and Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games wrap up in February 2026. He will call select games before then, including the NBA season opener in October 2025.

“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. “From the Olympics to Sunday Night Football to major golf championships and now the NBA, Mike is the most versatile voice in sports.”

During his career, Tirico has called about 375 regular-season and playoff games from 2002-2016 for ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Radio. From 2003-2005, Tirico was the main studio host for ESPN’s coverage, including the NBA Finals and the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the NBA champions. Additionally, in 2007-2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as the play-by-play voice of the NBA Finals on ESPN Radio.

Tirico is a two-time Sports Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio Host. Just this month, Tirico was elected to the National Sports Media Association’s Hall of Fame.