John Tesh Performing "Roundball Rock" On Live TV Was The Perfect Way To Welcome The NBA Back Into Our Lives

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WE. ARE. BACK!!!!

It has been 121 days since we watched the Oklahoma City Thunder win Game 7 to secure their first-ever NBA title, and while we had Summer League and Preseason to help scratch the basketball itch over the summer/early fall, there's nothing like the return of NBA basketball games that actually count. Essentially, every single night from tonight through June, there will be basketball on our TVs again. Boy, does that feel great to say. Sure, figuring out how to switch between all the streaming/TV channels is going to be annoying initially, but we'll all get used to it. 

At least for tonight, things are easy. The games are on NBC, which means that not only is the NBA back, but also NBA on NBC returns as well. For anyone who experienced what that was like in the 90s, you know what a big deal that is. In my humble opinion, that was the peak of basketball coverage as a viewer. Every game felt MASSIVE. In 2025, not only should the coverage be refreshing as hell, but it also brings the return of arguably the greatest basketball song of all time, Round Ball Rock. My hope is that from a production standpoint, they don't fumble how that song is used now that things are back on NBC, and those responsible for the broadcast just copy the approach from the 90s. That was perfect. 

And while there are many reasons to be excited for tonight (and the next 8 months), I'm not sure anything got my blood pumping quite like watching John Tesh perform Roundball Rock on live TV. To my idiot brain, this is what made it all feel real. As a basketball fan, there is no possible way you could hear this song and not get excited. It has everything. There's the nostalgia factor, the fact that the song itself is a banger, the fact that it symbolizes the NBA is back, all of it.

I'm sorry, but it just does not get better than that. I may or may not be a little excited and a prisoner of the moment, but am I crayz to suggest that this is the greatest anthem/song in all of sports? What beats it? I could see some saying the SEC on CBS, but to me, this song clears. What has stood the test of time like Roundball Rock? It doesn't matter when you hear it, it slaps. There's a reason it has its own legendary SNL skit

Perhaps this is mostly just an age thing, and that anyone who isn't from my era of NBA fandom doesn't really give a shit about this song. To that person, I would say, grow up. It doesn't get more iconic than this song/NBA on NBC. You'll just have to trust us "olds" who were there for it 30+ years ago. 

Between this song being back in our lives again, NBC/Amazon building out legit basketball coverage rosters and ESPN basically being bullied into actually producing real basketball content (shoutout Tim Legler) and not just terrible hot takes, it really does feel like we're about to have one of the best NBA seasons in recent memory. Add in the fact that the league is pretty wide open and the talent level has never been greater/deeper, god damn does it feel incredible to be back.