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October 22, 2025 14 mins

How NBC Made The NBA Feel SPECIAL Again | HARD PASS Ep. 54

The NBA is officially back, and so is all the drama. Stephen A. Smith and Russell Westbrook are calling out LeBron James for being “fake,” reigniting a long-running feud that Stephen A. claims has been brewing for years. He aired it all out on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, accusing LeBron of not being genuine and calling into question the image the ‘King’ has built throughout his career.

Opening night also delivered something fans haven’t felt in a long time, the NBA on NBC was perfect. From the production quality to the Michael Jordan segment, NBC’s broadcast immediately stood out and had fans saying it felt bigger and more special than anything ESPN or TNT has done in years. Doug Kezirian breaks down exactly why NBC’s presentation was a major win, and what it means for the future of NBA broadcasting.

“NBC’s broadcast felt BIG, something that even the NBA Finals lacked.” - Doug Kezirian

#nba #basketball #nbc #michaeljordan #lebronjames #okc #nbafinals #rockets #warriors #lakers #tnt #espn #insidethenba #westbrook

HARD PASS Ep. #

On Today’s Episode:

00:00 - Intro

00:40 - The Hoop Scoop

🏀 The NBA on NBC is officially back, bringing the 90s nostalgia fans have been missing. Michael Jordan returned to NBA television, and viewers were blown away by NBC’s production quality compared to TNT and ESPN. And even though LeBron didn’t play on opening night, he still dominated headlines after both Russell Westbrook and Stephen A. Smith called him fake.

06:15 - Heat Check

🔥 Social media reacts to NBA opening day, NBC’s broadcast debut, Michael Jordan being on TV again, and the LeBron drama heating up!

06:53 - Stephen A. Smith & Westbrook Call Out LeBron

#WNBA #BasketballNews #NFLnews #SportsDebate #SportsPodcast #viralbasketball #viralNFL #FootballTalk #BasketballTalk #SportsCommunity #NBAnews #WNBAnews

Welcome to HARD PASS with veteran sports analyst Doug Kezirian, your stadium seat to everything football, and your courtside ticket to everything basketball! From buzzer-beaters to behind-the-scenes drama, scorching hot takes, and sharp analysis you won’t hear anywhere else. Brought to you by the Doug Kezirian Sports Network (DKSN).

🗓 New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

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