Connect with us

Professional Sports

The History of the NBA on NBC

This fall, after more than 20 years away at other networks, the NBA will return home to NBC. The renewed partnership between league and network has many basketball fans nostalgic for the 1990s, when NBA on NBC was appointment TV for sports lovers everywhere, and has new fans wondering just how important that programming bloc was to league […]

Published

on

The History of the NBA on NBC

This fall, after more than 20 years away at other networks, the NBA will return home to NBC. The renewed partnership between league and network has many basketball fans nostalgic for the 1990s, when NBA on NBC was appointment TV for sports lovers everywhere, and has new fans wondering just how important that programming bloc was to league history. 

So, in anticipation of basketball action (and “Roundball Rock”) hitting NBC‘s airwaves again this October, let’s take a closer look at the history of NBA on NBC, its most iconic features, and what’s next. 

RELATED: NBA and WNBA Coming to NBC and Peacock in 2025

The history of NBA on NBC

Though NBC also broadcast professional basketball in the mid-1950s and early 1960s, when most fans talk about NBA on NBC, they’re talking about the 1990s. In the 1980s, though numerous stars were rising in the league, basketball didn’t have the same high-profile as football or even baseball at the time. Nationally televised games were hard to come by, and some broadcasters were still airing games on a tape delay, which meant that fans could sometimes find out the score before they’d even tuned in. 

The rise in NBA stars and sneakers and merch sales in the second half of the ’80s meant that the league’s profile was growing, and it needed a partner to help cement that rise. It got that partner when NBC signed on to broadcast NBA games, including playoffs, beginning with the 1990-1991 season. What happened next was a kind of a perfect storm that might never be seen again in sports broadcasting.

RELATED: The 5 Biggest Stars Who Changed Teams in the 2025 NBA Season

“The confluence of circumstances can never be duplicated,” NBA on NBC broadcaster Bob Costas told Front Office Sports last year. “The Bulls’ dynasty with Michael Jordan at the center of it. The original Dream Team. All the biggest games on NBC when the media landscape was very different. Double- and triple-headers on weekends, prime-time games throughout the playoffs. The promos on SeinfeldERCheers, [Johnny] Carson, [Jay] Leno, the Olympics…” 

The combination of new NBA stars and dynasties and the might of NBC‘s broadcast slate brought the NBA to greater heights than ever before, creating an environment in which new stars and new attitudes could flourish in front of a national audience. The run ended with the 2002 season, when the NBA signed a new agreement with different partners, but now it seems poised to enter a new era in 2025. 

What Michael Jordan meant to the NBA on NBC

As Costas mentioned, the NBA on NBC partnership exploded in popularity in no small part because of its association with the rise of Michael Jordan. The basketball superstar won his first NBA Championship with the Chicago Bulls at the end of the 1990-1991 season, the first NBA Finals broadcast on NBC, and would go on to win five more over the course of the 1990s. Looking back on Jordan’s career, many of his most memorable moments — from his “Flu Game” during the 1997 NBA Finals to his return to basketball after taking time off to play professional baseball — were broadcast on NBC, forever linking Jordan’s exploits with NBC broadcasters like Marv Albert and Bob Costas.

But Jordan was not alone in the NBA on NBC spotlight. His visibility, and the elevation of the league that came with it, almost meant that a whole new generation of stars came alive on NBC‘s airwaves. Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller (who’s set to return to NBC as part of the broadcast team), Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and many more all hit their prime during the NBC era, and many fans still remember discovering their game through NBA on NBC

As for the greatest game ever played on NBA on NBC? Well, every fan has their own answer, but the most memorable might be Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, which saw Jordan hit the game-winning shot with seconds remaining to win his sixth and final NBA title. 

But the games weren’t the only selling point. NBA on NBC also drew its viewers in with the help of broadcasters like Costas, and through dramatic lead-in packages meant to capture the stakes of big games, all part of a larger broadcasting scheme that made it one of the highest-rated shows on TV. 

“Roundball Rock” and NBA on NBC

For all its star power and broadcasting polish, though, NBA on NBC would not be the well-remembered institution it’s become if not for John Tesh and “Roundball Rock.” Composed specifically for the NBA on NBC and debuting during the 1990 season, Tesh’s instrumental composition has become synonymous with basketball glory, so much so that it will return as the theme for the NBA on NBC revival this fall. 

Tesh, a new age musician and broadcaster who’d done sports coverage before moving on to co-anchor Entertainment Tonight, was covering the Tour De France when he got the call that NBC wanted a new basketball theme. According to Tesh, after thinking about it for a while, the tune exploded into his head while sleeping in his hotel room, and he had to quickly find a way to get the melody out so he could work on it.

RELATED: 30 Rock Star Gives Victor Wembanyama & More Hilarious Tour of NBC Ahead of NBA’s Return

“In the middle of the night, at 2 o’clock in the morning, I got a theme in my head,” Tesh later told The Ringer. “I was awakened by the thought. And I knew if I went back to sleep, it would be gone. My synthesizers were in the production truck. I didn’t have any manuscript paper. But even if I did, with a musical theme, when you write down the notes, you don’t always capture its essence. I didn’t have a tape recorder with me. And no cellphone. I had nothing—nothing! The only way to record the idea was to call my Radio Shack answering machine back in Los Angeles. It took me two messages to get the whole thing out.”

What followed was an iconic, synth-driven theme that still says “basketball is coming” to a whole generation of fans. 

The return of NBA on NBC

More than 20 years after it went off the air, NBA on NBC will return to NBC in October of 2025, kicking off a new era with a broadcast team led by Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle. Tuesday night games will arrive weekly on NBC, while Mondays will bring exclusive streaming games on Peacock. In 2026, the whole agreement expands again with the introduction of Sunday Night Basketball, a new series adding even more NBA action to the NBC family. 

For more NBA news, head to NBC Sports. 

Professional Sports

Check The Kick

After recapping the top fights from UFC Vegas 106, Devin discusses Jon Jones, who doubled down this week on his choice to do…nothing…and former Bellator MMA bantamweight champ Patrick Mix, who has parted ways with Professional Fighters League and is UFC-bound. [embedded content] 0:00 Intro—– OUT WITH THE OLD: UFC VEGAS 1061:28 Michael Morales absolutely […]

Published

on

Check The Kick

After recapping the top fights from UFC Vegas 106, Devin discusses Jon Jones, who doubled down this week on his choice to do…nothing…and former Bellator MMA bantamweight champ Patrick Mix, who has parted ways with Professional Fighters League and is UFC-bound.

0:00 Intro
—– OUT WITH THE OLD: UFC VEGAS 106
1:28 Michael Morales absolutely wrecks Gilbert Burns
9:28 Melquizael Costa survives Julian Erosa—and a nasty toe injury
14:05 Jared Gordon checks Thiago Moises‘ chin after showing off his own
—– WHAT’S HOT
19:28 Jon Jones stands by his right not to fight
27:59 Patchy Mix’s short-notice UFC debut set

Continue Reading

Professional Sports

Luana Santos Scores First UFC Women's Americana, May Stay At 135

[embedded content] UFC bantamweight Luana Santos got back into the win column in style as she scored the first Americana submission victory in UFC women’s history over Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night. “Making history. I always tell people that I want to leave a little mark. To be the first Americana […]

Published

on

Luana Santos Scores First UFC Women's Americana, May Stay At 135

UFC bantamweight Luana Santos got back into the win column in style as she scored the first Americana submission victory in UFC women’s history over Tainara Lisboa at UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night.

“Making history. I always tell people that I want to leave a little mark. To be the first Americana finish…before this fight I said I want to have a safe fight. Cautious fight because I want to come out and get back into the win column,” Santos told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator at her post-fight scrum.

“As it turns out not only I did put on a show for people and I end up with a first Americana.”

Santos (9-2) took his first bantamweight UFC bout against Lisboa

“I have one foot in one and another foot on another. I feel good about this, bantamweight was actually what I used to fight, I used to fight 135 for a long time. Just wanted to test myself at 125, and I did it. This felt really good,” she said.

“I felt strong so this may be my home.”

Santos’s boyfriend, Allan Begosso, is a DWCS alumn and hopeful to make his UFC debut this year. He scored a submission victory at LFA 208 just a week ago in Santa Cruz putting his opponent to sleep.

Could the couple be together in the UFC next? Santos sure hopes so. When he does get in would she want to fight on the same card?

“No, no way. Otherwise I’m going to have a heart attack before the fight,” Santos told Cageside Press laughing at the thought.

“He can fight on one week, and I’ll fight the other!”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Luana Santos above.

Continue Reading

College Sports

IU basketball recruiting

Indiana offered Tennessee forward Trey Thompson on Monday, he announced on his social media pages. Thompson reported the offer came via a phone call with new assistant coach Kenny Johnson.  He’s also connected to new assistant Rod Clark, who offered and recruited him when Clark was an assistant coach at Tennessee. Multiple reports indicated the […]

Published

on

IU basketball recruiting

Indiana offered Tennessee forward Trey Thompson on Monday, he announced on his social media pages.

Thompson reported the offer came via a phone call with new assistant coach Kenny Johnson.  He’s also connected to new assistant Rod Clark, who offered and recruited him when Clark was an assistant coach at Tennessee.

Multiple reports indicated the IU staff was watching Thompson this weekend during the live period.

According to the industry average of the national recruiting sites, Thompson is a 3-star, the No. 136 overall player in the class, and the No. 22 power forward.

Thompson helped lead Greeneville H.S. (Greeneville, Tenn.) to the final four of the state tournament.  He was named Class 3A All-State.  This season Thompson averaged 24.3 points per game, while shooting 44 percent from three-point range, 60 percent from the field, and 81 percent from the free throw line. He averaged 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.

On film the 6-foot-8 and 220-pound Thompson has the look of a modern stretch-4.  He’s a very good shooter from beyond the arc, athletic, physical and rebounds at a high rate.

Both of Thompson’s parents used to coach basketball at Montverde Academy.  His father also played at the school.

For spring and summer basketball Thompson plays for Tennessee Impact on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit.

Thompson’s offer list includes Purdue, Tennessee, Xavier, Virginia, Stanford, Butler, Virginia Tech and others.

For a complete summary of Indiana’s 2026-28 offers and prospects, GO HERE.

For complete coverage of IU basketball recruiting, GO HERE.   


The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

Continue Reading

Professional Sports

Paddy Pimblett sends Ilia Topuria an ominous message ahead of UFC 317 lightweight title shot

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett sent a message to his longtime rival ahead of UFC 317. Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight championship next month at UFC 317. After weeks of speculation over a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup, Makhachev opted to vacate the title […]

Published

on

Paddy Pimblett sends Ilia Topuria an ominous message ahead of UFC 317 lightweight title shot

UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett sent a message to his longtime rival ahead of UFC 317.

Former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC lightweight championship next month at UFC 317. After weeks of speculation over a potential Islam Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup, Makhachev opted to vacate the title for a move to welterweight, leaving Topuria and Oliveira to compete for the belt.

As the UFC promised, Topuria will get an immediate lightweight title shot after vacating the featherweight belt earlier this year. It was later won by Alexander Volkanovski over Diego Lopes at UFC 314.

If Topuria earns the belt at UFC 317 over Oliveira, there is no shortage of options for his first lightweight title defense. One of the most viable options is a name long linked to a showdown with Topuria after a three-year feud.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Paddy Pimblett reignites Ilia Topuria feud as UFC 317 looms

Paddy Pimblett remained unbeaten in his UFC tenure by finishing Michael Chandler in the UFC 314 co-main event last month. Pimblett called out Topuria in his post-fight press conference, but called the former featherweight titleholder ‘irrelevant’ in the lightweight title mix.

Pimblett could potentially be next in line for a title shot after his win over Chandler. He and Topuria have a checkered past, dating back to their infamous altercation at a fighter hotel in 2022.

While Topuria and Pimblett shared a brief, albeit cordial moment while cornering their teammates at UFC 312, tensions remain high between the two sides. As Pimblett nears a shot at UFC gold, a matchup between the UK star and Topuria is closer than ever before.

Pimblett might not have a rooting preference in who wins the vacant title at UFC 317. But if it ends up being Topuria, Pimblett plans on finishing his longtime adversary in a vicious fashion.

In a recent Instagram post, Pimblett posted a photo of him headkicking Chandler along with a veiled message at Topuria.

“Can’t wait to land one of these on el chorizo,” Pimblett posted.

As of this writing, Topuria hasn’t responded to Pimblett’s post. He hasn’t fought since knocking out BMF titleholder Max Holloway at UFC 308 in October.

Ilia Topuria refuses to grant Islam Makhachev an immediate title shot with UFC 317 win

A Topuria vs. Pimblett showdown is becoming increasingly likely after Topuria’s recent remarks about the former titleholder. Topuria recently said he refuses to grant Makhachev an immediate title shot if he opts to return to the lightweight division, an apparent nod to Makhachev’s recent apprehension at facing him.

Makhachev is expected to face newly-crowned UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later this year for his chance at a second championship. He hasn’t fought since defeating Renato Moicano at UFC 311, and the welterweight door opened when Maddalena defeated Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.

The UFC lightweight and welterweight title conversations continue to spark spontaneity in MMA, and fight fans are in for a treat this summer and beyond.

Continue Reading

Professional Sports

¡Ya para la pelea! Denise Gomes noquea Elise Reed en UFC Fight Night

4

Published

on

¡Ya para la pelea! Denise Gomes noquea Elise Reed en UFC Fight Night

Continue Reading

College Sports

The Traditional Festival in a Different Format

Inspiration was the main objective of the one-week-long Sports Film Festival held in mid-December. This time, however, the annual project was different: film lovers could watch the movies free of charge and safely, i.e. without leaving their homes. “We are going through a difficult time, therefore this year the festival sought to inspire people, to […]

Published

on

The Traditional Festival in a Different Format

Inspiration was the main objective of the one-week-long Sports Film Festival held in mid-December. This time, however, the annual project was different: film lovers could watch the movies free of charge and safely, i.e. without leaving their homes.

“We are going through a difficult time, therefore this year the festival sought to inspire people, to brighten up their moods and introduce to them our unique sports heroes and tell them their stories. We wanted to provide this opportunity to all Lithuanian residents, from young viewers to the seniors, therefore all the films with Lithuanian subtitles were shown free of charge.

I am sure these films have helped to see the other side of sport, where medals are not the only measure of victories, and where determination and hard work at the sports ground change history,“ said Daina Gudzinevičiūtė, Olympic champion, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), President of the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LNOC).

The programme of the 2020 festival consisted of twelve documentaries and one feature film, which spoke, via sport and personal stories, about gender equality, climate change, children’s physical activity, the integration of refugees and the elderly and about other social challenges.

The festival involved five relevant discussions with athletes, experts, teachers and film directors. The discussion participants tried to answer the questions about whether sport could serve as a means of integrating refugees into society, how sport is related to climate change, how to get rid of gender stereotypes in sport, how to maintain a relationship with oneself and society as we grow older, and what physical literacy means.

All festival films were available to the audience free of charge on the Lithuanian Film Foundation platform. The most popular film of the festival was the cinematograph film “K2: My Way” presented by the embassy of the Czech Republic in Vilnius about the woman’s invincible will, desire and effort in pursuit of her goal.

“This is the first Czech documentary about a Czech female mountaineer. The film speaks about how difficult it is to find acceptance in today’s society and why it is necessary to defend one’s position, objective and desires and fight for them. Clara constantly balances between the roles of a woman, mom, and mountaineer. Why are men allowed more than women in today’s society?

The film raises the topics that are currently relevant and unfortunately painful and unresolved worldwide, such as gender equality and, in general, an individual’s human right to choose and decide,“ said Vit Korselt, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Lithuania.

The story from Scotland “Climbing Blind” and the short film “118 Feet of Freedom” by the Lithuanian director Mintautas Grigas attracted considerable interest.

The audience also showed interest in the films “Runner” and “Will” presented by the festival partner the US embassy in Vilnius, telling the incredible experiences of two men that changed history.

“We were delighted to have been able to present the multiple award-winning US documentaries at the Sports Film Festival again. We are also grateful for this opportunity to our long-time partners, the US film diplomacy program the American Film Showcase, which shows relevant documentaries to the viewers around the world.

These two films are excellent examples of this program, inviting us to discuss current social issues, refugees, diversity, tolerance and the power of sports as well as exceptional athletes who are able to unite people of different origins and cultures,“ said Caitlin Nettleton, the Cultural Attaché at the US Embassy in Vilnius.

The festival was organized by the National Olympic Committee of Lithuania in cooperation with the US Embassy in Vilnius along with the American Film Showcase program and the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Vilnius, Vilnius University, Olympic Channel, and the Lithuanian Film Foundation.

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending