Sports broadcasts have advanced so much that they can no longer just go straight into the action. The mood for the broadcast and event is set by an introductory song that leads into the start of the game.
The concept isn’t new, and NBC was considered ahead of its time. Fans watching NBA games on NBC in 1990 were treated to an up-tempo song to get them excited about the chosen matchup. The song was called “Roundball Rock” by John Tesh. It served as the intro music for the NBA on NBC for 12 years before the network was outbid for NBA coverage, with ABC winning the broadcast rights.
With so much changing for the 2025 season of NBA broadcasts, NBC decided to return to its original theme song, reviving “Roundball Rock.” The network won back rights to some NBA games in 2024, with the deal taking effect in the 2025–2026 season.
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Here is more on the NBA on NBC theme song.
NBA on NBC theme song
Tesh was asked in an interview what led him to create “Roundball Rock” and how NBC chose it. He began by saying that he was a CBS newscaster and had started covering some off-the-road sports for NBC. While working there, he heard that the network was looking for a new theme song and had reached out to iconic composers John Williams and Hans Zimmer.
He was in France at the time, covering the Tour de France in 1989, when he got the idea for a song that could be used. He called his own voicemail back in the United States and left the song on his answering machine. When he returned from the trip, he added instruments to the theme he had left himself and began composing.
Tesh then got some musician friends together and made a demo on a video cassette tape. He added it over basketball highlights of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
‘Roundball Rock’ history with the NBA
“Roundball Rock” was chosen as the NBA on NBC theme song starting in 1990. It lasted until 2002, when the network lost the rights to broadcast NBA games, which were then bought by ABC. NBC was able to buy back the rights to some NBA games in 2024, starting with the 2025–2026 season. To pay tribute to its past broadcasts, NBC is bringing back “Roundball Rock” as the official theme song.
“Roundball Rock” has become so popular that it was spoofed on a Saturday Night Live sketch. Jason Sudeikis and Tim Robinson perform the song for NBC, with Robinson playing Tesh’s brother, who provides lyrics for the iconic beat.
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Who is John Tesh?
Tesh is a musician and television presenter. Before he became famous for “Roundball Rock,” he was a news correspondent for CBS and then NBC. He became known for his coverage of the Tour de France from 1983–1986 with Al Michaels’ brother David. Tesh was the co-host of “Entertainment Tonight” from 1986 to 1996. He re-orchestrated the “Entertainment Tonight” theme song in 1990 and 1994. While his work with “Entertainment Tonight” made many people familiar with him, being credited with writing “Roundball Rock” is what he is more remembered for in 2025.
Tesh has won six Emmys, has four gold albums, and received two Grammy nominations.
