| "Roundball Rock" | |
|---|---|
| Single byJohn Tesh | |
| Released | 1990 |
| Recorded | 1990 |
| Genre | Rock |
| Length | 2:41 |
| Label | GTS Records |
| Songwriter | John Tesh |
| Producer | John Tesh |
| Audio | |
| "Roundball Rock" onYouTube | |
"Roundball Rock" is a musical composition byJohn Tesh composed in 1990 for theNBA on NBC. The tune has served as the theme for theNBA on NBC from 1990 to 2002 and again since 2025.[1] It has also served as the theme forFox College Hoops since 2018.[2]
"Roundball Rock" was first developed by John Tesh in July 1989 at a hotel room inMegève, France. Tesh was in France at the time covering theTour de France for CBS. NBC had recently acquiredNational Basketball Association (NBA) broadcasting rights from CBS, and let Tesh know it was looking for theme music. While asleep, Tesh came up with the theme and instantly woke up to record it. Without any of his instruments nearby or a tape recorder, Tesh called his answering machine at home and sang a preliminary version of the melody so he would not forget it. When he came back from France, Tesh began to start recording from his studio in Los Angeles.[3][4][5]
The recording was submitted to NBC on a VHS tape consisting offast break highlights soundtracked to the completed theme. Tesh also sent the tape under apseudonym because he was already well known as a TV host and sportscaster, knowing that the perception was that "the guy that reads the celebrity birthdays on [Entertainment Tonight] isn't going to be writing our sports themes".[6] Before submitting the tape, Tesh originally titled the tape "Roundball Rock" as a placeholder, but the name ultimately stuck. The name was derived from a game announcer, believed by Tesh to beDick Stockton, saying "This is great roundball!”. Amongst six submitted candidates, NBC ultimately selected "Roundball Rock".[5]
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"Roundball Rock" is mainly anchored in synthesizers, with a mix consisting of string, brass, trumpets, low brass, violins, cellos, and violas. The tune is in the key ofA minor.[5]
"Roundball Rock" made its NBC broadcast debut on November 3, 1990, during NBC's opening season matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.[7] The theme was played an estimated 12,000 times over the course of NBC's 12-year run from 1990 to 2002. A more rock-oriented variant was introduced in1997 to coincide with the debut of theWNBA. That theme was also used on NBC's WNBA telecasts only. After NBC lost NBA and WNBA rights toABC andESPN in 2002, Tesh offered the incoming networks the rights to use his theme, but they declined and chose to compose their own theme music instead.[8][4]
"Roundball Rock" has since been revived for NBC's coverage ofbasketball at the Summer Olympics on multiple occasions. It was first brought back in2008 incommercial bumpers and starting lineup announcements.[9] NBC has since used the theme for all its Summer Olympics basketball events since 2016.[10][11][12]
In May 2024, Tesh indicated toThe Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz that "Roundball Rock" would return to NBC under a new arrangement for the2024 Summer Olympics and potential regain of NBA rights.[13][12] Initially, when NBC announced its new deal on July 24, the network indicated that "Roundball Rock" would return as its main theme again when it returns to airing the NBA in 2025.[14][1] However,CNBC would report later in November that Tesh and NBC Sports had yet to agree to a deal to use the theme.[15] On May 3, 2025, NBC Sports officially announced during itsKentucky Derby coverage that it would return as the main theme song for its NBA coverage, having already announced their intention to return on July 24, 2024.[16][17]
The theme was sampled byNelly for his song "Heart of a Champion" from his studio album,Sweat, and compilation albumSweatsuit. "Roundball Rock" was also used inThe Boondocks episode "Ballin'".
A re-recording of the tune is used by Tesh as theme music for hissyndicated radio show, as well as for the television seriesIntelligence for Your Life that Tesh co-hosts with his wifeConnie Sellecca.
A 2013Saturday Night Live sketch shows Tesh (portrayed byJason Sudeikis) with his fictional brother Dave (Tim Robinson) playing the tune for NBC executives, complete with lyrics.[18] The real John Tesh called the bit "the greatest thing that's ever happened to me" and says he shows it in his concerts.[5]
In December 2018,Fox Sports announced that it had acquired the rights to "Roundball Rock" for its ownFox College Hoops broadcasts and continued to use it concurrently with NBC, which reportedly had to sublicense rights from Fox to use the theme for its revived NBA package.[19][20][21]
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) secured the rights to "Roundball Rock" in December 2022 for use during promotion ofWinter Is Coming, with AEW presidentTony Khan saying he is a major fan of the theme.[22][23]
"Roundball Rock" is considered to be one of the greatest television sports themes of all time.[24][4] Its original run with theNBA on NBC coincided with one of the NBA's most popular and revered eras, which saw theChicago Bulls dynasty led byMichael Jordan and theLos Angeles Lakers three-peat withShaquille O'Neal andKobe Bryant. Its presentation and usage on NBC's broadcasts was credited with building excitement for the games and enhancing the television watching experience. FormerNBC Sports reporterJim Gray likened the excitement generated by "Roundball Rock" to watchingThe NFL Today withBrent Musburger on CBS. Sports media personality Rob Perez, currently[when?] ofSirius XM, described the stature of the theme by saying, “If the NBA was a religion, ′Roundball Rock′ would be the congregation’s opening hymn. For those who follow the NBA, that song has been the ′Hallelujah′ chorus.”[5]
In the following years since theNBA on NBC initially ended, "Roundball Rock" has taken on a different life through various internet memes and parodies. In August 2008, Tesh uploaded a live performance of the theme onCatalina Island in 1997 to YouTube. The video has amassed over 2.4 million views. Former ESPN sportswriterBill Simmons commented on the performance by saying, “I think he means to be ironic, but there’s something nonironic about his quest to be ironic. Again, he’s dressed like a waiter on a cruise ship.”[25] Despite its continued changing internet presence and other varying usages, "Roundball Rock" is still most strongly associated with theNBA on NBC.[26][27]
