When NBC regained part of the NBA’s media rights in July after over 20 years, speculation quickly arose about the future of one of sports’ most iconic TV theme songs. On Saturday, the network confirmed the news, announcing that it will bring back “Roundball Rock”—the catchy instrumental by John Tesh still strongly tied to the NBA—for its coverage starting in the fall of 2025. The announcement was made during NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby.
“I’m genuinely honored to return to NBC Sports,” Tesh shared in an NBC statement. “From our very first conversation, Rick Cordella had a clear vision of bringing ‘Roundball Rock’ back to its rightful place. Like millions of fans, I’ll be eagerly watching from the front row when it debuts this fall.”
NBC reintroduced “Roundball Rock” through a promo featuring NBA players, legends, and various Universal properties singing along, ending with Tesh performing the song in an arena.
