“Game Within the Game”: Melo Returns to NBC as NBA Coverage Reignites

By DaMarko Webster

After more than 20 years away from the network that once defined basketball broadcasting, the NBA is making its much-anticipated return to NBC this fall—and it’s bringing a familiar face along for the ride.

Carmelo Anthony, a 10-time All-Star and one of the game’s most respected voices, is set to join NBC Sports as part of its fresh NBA coverage team. For Anthony, the role is more than a media move—it’s a homecoming.

“Watching the NBA on NBC growing up shaped my love for the game,” Anthony said. “Now, I’m thrilled to join the NBC Sports family. I’ve always used my platform to help grow the game, and I’m excited to bring fans a fresh perspective as we usher in a new era.”

NBC is building out a powerhouse lineup, pairing Anthony with fellow former pros Jamal Crawford and Reggie Miller as analysts. Veteran broadcaster Mike Tirico and rising star Noah Eagle will share play-by-play duties, forming a well-rounded team aimed at balancing insight, chemistry, and charisma.

In a recent on-air conversation, Anthony reflected on what excites him most about this new chapter: collaboration.

“Just building a team, getting back into a team-oriented aspect,” he said. “Talking the game, speaking the game, figuring out the ‘why’—what players are doing, and why they’re doing it. The game within the game, I think, needs to be talked about.”

Anthony brings nearly two decades of on-court experience to the analyst’s chair. Drafted third overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2003, he wrapped his 19-year career in 2022 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then, he’s stayed close to the game through his popular podcast 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, where he dives into NBA culture with signature candor and depth.

Now, Anthony is poised to help redefine what modern basketball broadcasting can be—by blending nostalgia, nuance, and next-gen storytelling. NBC, once the home of iconic NBA on NBC themes and “Roundball Rock” memories, is betting that this dream team of voices can help recapture magic—and create something new.