Every time I listen to this song, it reminds me of the 90s Knicks (my favorite team), Jordan and Pippen's Bulls, Charles Barkley and the Suns, Jazz with Stockton and Malone, and Supersonics with Payton and Kemp, Reggie Miller and the Pacers, and Mutombo knocking off the Sonics as the 8th seed with the Nuggets. To me, this is the greatest era of basketball.
Or the 1992 Finals between the Bulls and Trailblazers! Jordan vs. Drexler! Also the 1993 Finals between the Bulls and Suns featuring Jordan vs. Barkley!
Growing up in San Antonio watching David Robinson, Sean Ellliott and the spurs on a Sunday afternoon doubleheader NBA on NBC miss those days ... 90's good times .
Too bad they won't- they'll just keep using obnoxious hip hop songs and further monetizing their games. Come to think of it they might monetize you being able to download this theme for 750 credits or something
I revisited this song because, as far as I can tell, this is the ONLY THING that NBC brings to the table in NBA coverage. It's INCREDIBLE music, still gets my heart beating every time. But WHY WHY WHY would anyone want to break up NBA on TNT and lose the fellas, the panel, and the decades of good will they've built. Save us, Ernie!
We loved it, but the whole NBA experience needs a mix up. And whilst the classic music is legendary, the NBC needs to deliver a quality product. As does the NBA itself - fix the bloody game.
This is the theme of Michael, Scottie, Shaq and Kobe. They made the NBA on NBC the classic that it’ll forever be with all their winning and historic championship runs on this network.
Yes, the Bulls had 2 3-peats and the Lakers had a 3-peat with Shaq & Kobe also, the Rockets had Back to Back Titles and the Spurs won their 1st Title in 1999 Robert Horry won 5 Championships during its time on NBC with the Rockets and the 2000's Lakers He would win 2 more with the Spurs on abc in 2005 against the Pistons lead by the Wallace Boys and in 2007 sweeping LeBron James and the Cavs
Should be called "The Gospel of the GOAT" cause every time I hear this it reminds me of MJ preventing everyone else (including my Knicks) from winning the title.
I'm not even a traditional sports fan (I was actually into what we now call MMA back then) but Jordan was such a cultural phenomenon that occasionally I'd give up watching a movie or Pancrase or Pride match I rented (on VHS!) to watch the Bulls play with my friends who were all heavy into basketball. Anyway, this theme and Marv Albert's voice opening up the pregame. It was like you really were an imperial subject plied into complacency with your bread (turkey & cheese on a roll and an Arizona) and about to watch some incredible circuses, and you couldn't be happier! What a song! If NBC ever gets the NBA back, I'll watch the Knicks opener just for the theme. But that can't change it! Don't try to do a break beat, hard rock or trap version. THIS is the song!
So happy this “might” be coming back. I’ve always hated TNT having the NBA rights. TNT is the Lebron & Warriors era, NBC was THE ERA. Cant wait to tune into a Knicks playoff game with Brunson and Hart with this playing in the background vignette, it’s gonna be an instant classic.
I have so many favorites from my youth but this one is iconic. I remember it was the first song that I had ever downloaded on MP3 and I probably played it as many times as NBC played it throughout its history 18,000 times and I already know perfect, it’s gonna be one of my top songs. I’ve listened to already in 2024 because you tell me that it’s time to get motivated to get ready to go, this is that song that will get anybody pumped up for any sport any event this is probably the best sports theme song of all time hands-down 100%.
Doug Collins: Here’s Michael dribbling to his right towards the baseline with no help from the rim and how many times have we seen him finish at the rim for 2. Then you have a couple of Knicks double teaming Duncan, but it doesn’t matter one dribble post turn around jump hook that adds to the Spurs lead. Finally, Kobe is in transition with one guy to beat but decides to dish it back to the trailing big fella as O’Neal finishes with a routine flush And your watching the NBA on NBC Bob Costas: The last whistle was a foul on Allan Houston, it is his 4th.
They need to bring this iconic theme back for today's NBA games and or NBA needs to be on NBC again like how it used to be back in the 80s, 90s and 2000s
1. Fox currently uses it for College Hoops. 2. There’s a good chance that the NBA will return to NBC with the new TV deal in 2025-26 along with ESPN and Amazon. Only sad part is, no TNT…
I remember hearing Marv Albert saying Jordan and the bulls vs Shaq and magic or whoever was the star player and the team he played for vs that star player and the team he played for. Good times back then
NBA ON NBC (1990 - 2002) - Dream Team Era Vs NBA ON ABC (2003 - Present Day) - Modern Soft Era Which era does everyone prefer basketball at? You Decide..... I still watch the game at the here & now..... No matter what happens in the league, I'm still a loyal Chicago Bulls fan - 1992 - present day. Teamwork, Defense & Perseverance win NBA Championships. Congratulations to Mike Breen at calling his 100th NBA Finals appearance where he 1st began in 2006 then lend his voice in Live 14 - 18. But all of us grew up with the legendary Marv Albert from his glory days at NBC, Turner Sports, NBA Live 2004 - 10 & retired on 7/03/21 after 55 years of play by play broadcasting. Here are some honorable announcers of the NBA - Ian Eagle, AL Michaels, Kevin Calabro, Bob Fitzgerald, & Kevin Harlan. Mad Respect to John Tesh for creating one of the NBA's greatest memorable theme of all time - Roundball Rock!!!! 22 years has passed & it's sad that we'll never see an NBA team 3-peat again.
Must be awkward to realize that many from the "Dream Team era" you referred to also played in the "modern soft era" too. Don't hear many say that the likes of Kobe, Shaq, AI, Timmy, KG, GP, etc. are soft. But you got your likes lol
@marsrox2 Them guys back end of their career just happened to end in the soft era. They were victims of the soft era rule changes but they were mostly known from the 90s and early 2000s so let's not act foolish
Good quality! This is the version of Roundball Rock that was used on TV by NBC for the the pregame show ("NBA Showtime") and the actual games. The version everyone shares is the original track which is more repetitive. And that's the version that FOX Sports is using for College Basketball.
Then: Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan Now: Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Jalen Brunson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembenyama, LeBron James
Wish I could make a mashup of the last part of the main melody with the last part of the well-remembered CBS NBA opening animation of the 80s, bringing a 90s feel to an 80s opening.
