There's one thing that surprised me about this theme song, it was brought back in 1979 when the Sonics won the championship! Oh those memories when me and my dad watched the NBA On CBS.
In addition to the full version of the NBA on CBS theme at that time, there were truncated parts of this theme song in TV bumpers, something like 10- to 15-second pilots, with a measured "trash-can ending" (which includes the "funky drum fill") on the F major chord for 2 1/4 measures. The reason was that in 1973, soul and funk and R and B (as well as Motown) were kings of music in the early 1970s. Not just pop music.
0:08 - the ref signals a travelling violation. At the 0:57 mark, a silhouette person doing a "Julius Erving" non-dunk shot towards the basket on a primary break. I was about 2 years old when this NBA music was released and I did not know anything basketball except the music. Now I know a lot about basketball now.
This brings back great memories. I was like 10 and used to watch NBA games with my dad. Think of the classic scene with the father with his cold beer and the kid sitting next to him with a matching glass with a coke.
Give it all you got, take your very best shot, and may the best team win. The time is now, the name of the game is action. They're on the floor and they're ready to score so let the game begin, and let's see how the ball gonna bounce today. Welcome to NBA come and join the rest of the crowd, here's another classic about to come your way. You'll see the best in basketball, when you watch the NBA. When you watch the NBA on CBS (CBS). You'll see the best in basketball on CBS (CBS). When you watch the NBA on CBS (CBS). NBA (NBA) on CBS (On CBS). (Fade out).
I think the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks featuring Future Hall of Famer Kareem Jabbar versus the eventual 1972 Eastern Division Champion New York Knicks from 1/3/1972. There is a brief clip of the introduction of this game that is somewhere on YT.
Monday night, Jan. 3rd 1972. A prime time game. There would not be another prime time regular season game on network tv until 1989 or 90, i believe. Knicks over the Champion Bucks by 2 , 101 to 99 as Frazier hit the game winner, had 31. Kareem lead all scorers with 38. Bill Russel`s comment on the bump & run defense not originating in the NFL it was started by veteran Knicks guard Dick Barnett was apt.
Cuz 1960s players “wilt, big o, Willis Reed Etc” still ruled a chunk of the early 70s. The “Parody Era = I.E the era with no certain dynasty” didn’t really take into *full* effect until a bit before the mid 70s.
That is really cool. And the graphic package is really solid for the early seventies. And the theme music has that late sixties and early seventies funk style that really jams. Very high quality.
Wow, this was actually before my time. Not long before my time as I was born in 1977. But the graphics package was awesome for back in the early seventies and that is a very catchy tune.
There were no commercial cuts at the start of the game since it was aired in 1974 during the Pistons-Bulls game...they go straight to the game at that time, that's why the beginning of the video was quite iffy. But I get what you're saying though.
Thanks! I heard the theme (an Edd Kalehoff composition) as part of a Score Productions demo record, but was disappointed to not find any footage of how it was used on-air. Glad to finally see some -- and it looks like this is an alternate mix.
