The NBA’s comeback to NBC this season will sound a lot like it did in the 1990s. NBC Sports announced that it will revive the iconic Roundball Rock theme and use an AI-generated version of longtime network voice Jim Fagan for its 2025-26 NBA coverage on NBC and Peacock.
The details were revealed October 14 in NBC’s official announcement outlining its broadcast plans for the first two weeks of the season. The network said the return of its classic theme and narration is part of an effort to connect new audiences with the presentation that defined NBC’s original NBA era from 1990 to 2002.
Roundball Rock Returns to NBC Broadcasts
Roundball Rock — composed by John Tesh — became one of the most recognizable sports themes in television history during NBC’s first run as the league’s broadcast partner. The anthem underscored countless highlight packages and championship introductions and became a staple of basketball culture throughout the 1990s.
NBC confirmed the song will once again open every NBA broadcast and studio show, including NBA Tip-Off, Peacock NBA Monday and Coast 2 Coast Tuesday. The decision marks the first time the network has used the theme since its final NBA broadcast in 2002.
The theme’s cultural reach has extended far beyond basketball. It was sampled by Nelly in “Heart of a Champion”, featured in The Boondocks episode “Ballin’,” and re-recorded by Tesh for his Intelligence for Your Life radio and television programs. The tune was also the centerpiece of a 2013 Saturday Night Live sketch in which Jason Sudeikis portrayed Tesh pitching the song to NBC executives — a parody the real Tesh later called “the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
The song also made a detour to college basketball. Fox Sports acquired the rights in December 2018 and began using it for College Basketball on Fox and FS1 starting in 2019. Reception was mixed, with fans divided over hearing a song so closely associated with NBA broadcasts applied to a different level of the sport. Fox has continued to use the theme through the 2024-25 season but has indicated it plans to debut a new basketball theme ahead of NBC’s relaunch.
NBC Uses AI Voice of Jim Fagan for NBA Promotions
Alongside the musical revival, NBC Sports will employ an AI-generated voice model of the late Jim Fagan, whose narration was featured across NBC’s NBA, Olympics and NFL coverage for more than a decade. The recreated voice will be used for promotional segments and broadcast intros.
Fagan’s narration became synonymous with NBC’s sports branding through the 1990s, accompanying both live broadcasts and commercial spots. NBC said the AI version was developed from archival recordings to honor his legacy and reintroduce the familiar tone that longtime viewers associate with the network’s earlier NBA coverage.
Emmy Award-winning producer Frank DiGraci, named coordinating producer for NBC’s new NBA presentation, will oversee production for the broadcasts and promotional elements. NBC said the initiative reflects its goal of combining modern technology with the classic look and feel of its earlier coverage.
The announcement follows NBCUniversal’s 11-year agreement with the NBA and WNBA to air regular-season and playoff games across NBC and Peacock beginning this season. As part of the renewed partnership, the network plans up to 100 regular-season games in 2025-26, with consistent programming on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights.
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