You know the sound. It’s that driving, caffeinated synth-pop melody that makes you want to immediately run through a brick wall or, at the very least, try to dunk on a 10-foot rim in your driveway.
Roundball Rock.
For anyone who grew up in the 90s, that song wasn't just a theme; it was a weekly invitation to watch Michael Jordan do things that didn't seem physically possible. It’s arguably the most iconic piece of sports music ever written, and honestly, the story of how the nba on nbc theme song came to be is almost as improbable as a 60-point triple-double.
The Midnight Answering Machine Call
Back in 1989, John Tesh was mostly known as the co-host of Entertainment Tonight. He wasn't exactly a "sports guy." In fact, Tesh has admitted he could barely name four teams in the league at the time. He was in France covering the Tour de France for CBS when he heard NBC had snagged the NBA rights.
He got this itch. He wanted to write the theme.
The melody hit him at 2 a.m. in a hotel room in Megève. He didn't have a piano. He didn't even have a cassette recorder. Most of us would have just gone back to sleep and forgotten the greatest hook in sports history. Instead, Tesh picked up the rotary phone in his room, dialed his own home answering machine in Los Angeles, and sang the melody into the receiver.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
"Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-basketball! Gimme gimme gimme the ball because I'm gonna dunk it!"
Okay, those weren't the actual lyrics he sang—though Saturday Night Live later famously joked that they were—but he hummed the skeletal structure of the tune into his machine. When he got back to the States, he took that grainy, lo-fi recording and turned it into the orchestral juggernaut we know today.
Why It Still Hits Different
There is a specific reason why the nba on nbc theme song feels more "epic" than the modern, bass-heavy tracks you hear on ESPN or TNT today. Tesh composed it with a "baroque pop" influence. It has a fast-break tempo and distinct sections that were specifically designed for a broadcaster to talk over.
When NBC first aired it on November 3, 1990, during a Lakers vs. Spurs matchup, it changed the vibe of the broadcast instantly. It felt like a movie. It didn't just say "here is a game"; it said "here is an event." NBC played that theme over 12,000 times during their initial 12-year run. By the time they lost the rights to ABC in 2002, the song was so ingrained in basketball culture that fans felt a genuine sense of mourning.
The 2025 Resurrection
For twenty years, the song was basically a ghost. Tesh actually offered it to ABC and ESPN when they took over the rights in 2002, but they turned him down, wanting to "build their own brand." Big mistake.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
The song lived on in weird places. Fox Sports actually licensed it for college basketball in 2018, which felt... wrong. It was like seeing your ex-girlfriend wearing your favorite hoodie but with another guy. Fans hated it. It didn't belong to the Big Ten; it belonged to the pros.
But things changed in late 2024. NBC won back the NBA rights in a massive 11-year deal, and the first question everyone asked wasn't about the announcers or the schedule. It was about the music.
As of the 2025-26 season, Roundball Rock is officially back home.
NBC didn't just bring back the song; they leaned into the nostalgia hard. For the relaunch, they even used an AI-generated version of the late, legendary voice Jim Fagan to handle the intros. It’s a wild mix of 90s soul and 2026 technology.
What You Might Have Missed
- The Pseudonym: Tesh was so worried that NBC executives wouldn't take a "celebrity gossip host" seriously as a composer that he originally submitted the tape under a different name.
- The SNL Connection: In 2013, Jason Sudeikis played John Tesh in a sketch where he tried to pitch the song with ridiculous lyrics. Tesh loved it. He actually plays the clip at his concerts now.
- The Nelly Sample: If you remember the song "Heart of a Champion" by Nelly, that's a direct sample of the theme.
- The Sunday Night Pivot: While Roundball Rock is the main theme, NBC is also bringing in Lenny Kravitz to do a specific theme for "Sunday Night Basketball," much like Carrie Underwood does for the NFL.
Actionable Insights for the Modern Fan
If you’re looking to recapture that 90s magic or just want to understand why your older brother is crying during the tip-off, here is how you can engage with the return of the nba on nbc theme song:
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
Check the Schedule
NBC and Peacock are running a massive slate. Look for the "Big Three" windows:
- Peacock Monday Night NBA: Exclusive national games.
- Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: Regional doubleheaders on NBC and Peacock.
- Sunday Night Basketball: Starting in early 2026 after the NFL playoffs.
Listen to the Original Demo
You can actually find the original "answering machine" recording on YouTube. It is hilarious and impressive at the same time. Hearing Tesh literally "ba-ba-ba" the melody into a shitty 1989 phone line makes you realize how close we came to never having this song at all.
Look for the WNBA Integration
NBC is using a "baroque pop" variant of the theme for their WNBA coverage as well. It’s a nice nod to the original 1997 debut of the women's league, which used a similar arrangement.
The return of this theme isn't just about a catchy tune. It’s about a feeling. It’s about the era of the "Dream Team" and the global explosion of the game. When you hear those first four notes hit this season, you're not just watching a game—you're participating in a piece of sports history that was almost lost to a forgotten voicemail.