The Orlando Magic will play their first game on NBC on Dec. 1 when they face the Washington Wizards. It's a sign of things to come.

Welcome back, your Airness.

With his return, Michael Jordan has suddenly made his Wizards must-see TV. Or at least that's what NBC and the Turner networks hope.

In 1998, Jordan's last year on the court, NBC drew a 4.8 rating for its NBA games, while the Turner networks (TNT and TBS) earned an average 1.7 rating. Last season, NBC was down to 3.0; Turner to 1.1.

There's a reason networks like Mike: Everyone watches him.