The NBA on NBC theme song, 'Roundball Rock,' set to return in 2025

“Hi, this is a message for me about the NBA theme,” Tesh said on his answering machine in 1989. “Here’s an idea. It goes like this: “Bada-da-da-da-da—da—da…”

The red light on John Tesh’s answering machine was blinking. With the press of a button, a cassette tape began to roll and a message that would go on to change his life started to play.

It was from himself.   

“Hi, this is a message for me about the NBA theme,” Tesh said on his answering machine while calling his house in 1989. “Here’s an idea. It goes like this: “Bada-da-da-da-da—da—da…”

That melody went from his answering machine to television screens across the world, before permanently settling in the hearts and minds of many basketball fans as the anthem of the sport.

It was the origin of the song “Roundball Rock,” which Tesh estimates was played 12,000 times during game coverage as the NBA on NBC theme from 1990 to 2002.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/nba-nbc-theme-song-roundball-rock-set-return-2025-rcna163545

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