As fans continue to mourn what seems to be the inevitable end of “Inside the NBA” and the NBA‘s partnership with Turner Sports, NBC is getting ready for what they are hoping is an iconic comeback. The NBA and NBC have had no collaboration since 2002, yet the legendary theme song “Roundball Rock,” composed by pianist John Tesh, remains a nostalgic favorite. Tesh, a six-time Emmy winner with four gold albums and two Grammy nominations, is poised to help NBC refresh their iconic theme song as they prepare for the return of NBA Basketball to the network.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Tesh is also a sports broadcaster and an inductee into the 2018 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. During his appearance on the Dan LeBatard show, Tesh revealed that NBC had reached out to him. “They have, actually,” Tesh told LeBatard and his co-hosts. “Nothing firm, but they said, ‘Hey, can you stay frosty on this,’ like it’s a Navy SEAL thing. We’re actually talking about licensing it to them for the Olympics in Paris. So, at the end of June, we’re heading to Nashville with a full orchestra on hold to re-record it. The original recording still sounds great, but I wanted to make a few changes.”
NBC’s coverage of the Olympics could give viewers a taste of what to expect aesthetically and culturally for the 2025-2026 NBA season. While the revamped theme song and intro are essential elements, it’s unclear if they will be enough to ease the disappointment of NBA fans potentially losing their favorite show. However, it is certainly a promising start.
Take a look at Tesh’s appearance on the Dan LeBatard show below.
