Many individuals bear in mind the late Jim Fagan because the rugged voice that proudly knowledgeable Nineteen Nineties and early-2000s basketball followers that they have been watching the NBA on NBC.
The distinct sound of Fagan’s voiceovers, with John Tesh’s rousing “Roundball Rock” taking part in within the background, might be endlessly linked to the period when Michael Jordan dominated the game and gamers like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan have been simply beginning to construct their legacies.
Fagan died in 2017 at age 72 after battling Parkinson’s illness. His voice, nonetheless, will quickly be greater than only a fond reminiscence for basketball followers.
That announcement got here days after NBC Sports activities revealed that it was bringing again “Roundball Rock” as its NBA anthem. On Tuesday, the community dropped a promo video that includes each the basic tune and Fagan’s AI-generated voice. Any nostalgic vibes felt by old-school NBA followers undoubtedly weren’t coincidental.
“We’re deeply grateful that NBC Sports had the vision to honor our father’s legacy in such a meaningful way,” Silvia Joyce and Silvia-Koonin said. “He took great pride in his work with NBC Sports, especially in helping set the stage for some of the most memorable moments in NBA history. Knowing that his voice will once again be part of the game he loved — and that a new generation of fans will get to experience it — is incredibly special for our family. He would be so thrilled and proud to be a part of this.”
