Agreed the NHL needs to do the opposite and drop NBC and return to ESPN/ABC. It seemed when the NBA and the NHL switched broadcast partners the quality of the broadcasts fell dramatically. The NHL on NBC is awful with too much focus on American teams (even the terrible ones) and no respect for the Canadian teams.
This was a sad moment when the NBA on NBC went away...the intros, Bob Costas storied Intros, Hearing Marv Albert say, “YES!” Some of the greatest games I’ve EVER witnessed as a kid was during this era...The NBA needs to Bring it Back!
The NBA on NBC coincided to air the best era in basketball history. And their intro, theme and montage for every single game made it that much better. Best memories.
I love being 33 I grew in the most perfect eras of all time I remember seeing the last game and this live with my brothers in our room. Product of the late 80s 90s kid and 2000s teen and 10s college 👌🏼💯
mannn can you guys imagine if the NBA on NBC was still in effect this year..can ya imagine the epic intro that NBC was going to make for the Cavs and Warriors..with these epic commentators and broadcasters..man I miss this $!
Will never forget this great era of basketball. NBC did an outstanding job of bringing all the great matchups during the seasons into our own living room. And there were alot of good teams during the NBA on NBC era. We all know about the Bulls dynasty, the Rockets and their back 2 back titles, the Spurs with Robinson and Duncan and the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. But other teams were pretty good during that time like the Kings, Suns, Sonics, 76ers, Heat, Hawks, Pistons, Hornets, Bucks, Knicks and Pacers. But what really made the games go on NBC were the announcers. They made the NBA fun to watch. Starting with Marv Albert and his partner for the first 3 season Mike ''the czar of the telestrator'' Fratello. Then along came other good announcers like Dick Enberg, Tom Hammond, Greg Gumbel, Dan Hicks and later Mike Breen. And the analysts such as Bill Walton, Steve ''Snapper'' Jones, Magic Johnson, Doug Collins, Matt Guokas, and PJ Carlesimo. And lets not forget Bob Costas, the original host of Showtime before he got promoted to pxp guy after Marv was fired after his assault on a lady in 1997. This was such a great time to be a basketball fan in the 90s. Miss that era. Always loved the NBA on NBC and its theme song. Got me ready to watch the big games on that day. Loved every minute of that era from 1991-2002. Too bad we don't have that kind of basketball anymore.
Let’s not forget Tom Tolbert. He brought some respectability to the studio analyst position after Jayson Williams was fired from NBC for killing his limo driver in February of 2002.
Anyone notice when bob costas say the lakers title run continues with perhaps no ending insight. Who would have thought that was shaq and Kobe last title. Their egos cost them a decade of dominance. They should have own the 2000s decade.
28 years of CBS and NBC combined 1974-2002. Those years featured the absolute best era of NBA basketball, the dynasties of Boston and Bird, L.A. Lakers, Kareem and Magic(first time, Shaq and Kobe, 2nd time), Philadelphia 76ers, Dr. J, Detroit Pistons, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and bad boys, and the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, and the Spurs, David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
I feel like with CBS, it didn't really enter it's own "definitive" golden era until that CGI intro of Boston Garden created by Bill Feigenbaum along with Allyson Bellink's theme music was first used in the 1983 NBA Finals. A year later, was the very first meeting of Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics in the Finals, who were the two figures credited with turning the NBA's fortunes around.
@@TMC1982Part2 She was excellent with that theme. CBS used that theme during their last 7 years. Would you believe they used The Alan Parsons Project for the 1982 season!!!
@@CatholicTraditional Exactly. During the weekdays the finals came on at 11:30 PM after the local news where I'm from. CBS wouldn't even show trophy celebrations bc they had to show the Kemper Open smh. They didn't do anything with the NBA until Bird & Magic
Love that ending. Having a B-ball tossed away in an empty gym. Kinda like at the end of a pick-up game. Perfect. And it made me say, "NBC did their thing." ....Emotional stuff. 7:25
The NBA on NBC was something special to watch- you were into the games, the rivalries. Marv Albert’s infamous “Yes,” and the one that was legendary- “Yes and it counts- something special hearing his telecasts.
And if you wanna see Tracy Wolfson and Allie LaForce share sideline reporting duties for the Final Four, the National Championship and the Super Bowl every three years, gimme a hell yeah!
John Tran probably won’t happen anytime soon, Disney has the money to keep paying the licensing every time especially how much money the nba brings in now
The CBS era was the golden of basketball on the court and the silver era of basketball on television. The NBC era was the silver era of basketball on the court and the golden era of basketball on television. The soul of the NBA died the night the NBC era ended.
The CBS era (at least in the '80s, until the end of their coverage in 1990) was defined by Larry Bird's Boston Celtics, Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers, the "Showtime" era Lakers, and the "Bad Boys" era Detroit Pistons. The NBC era was defined by Michael Jordan, the Houston Rockets' dynasty in the interim of Jordan's first retirement, and the Shaq-Kobe led Lakers dynasty. I think that the San Antonio Spurs (led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson in 1999), were the only team of the NBA on NBC era (1990-2002), not named Bulls, Lakers, or Rockets to win the NBA Championship.
@@TMC1982Part2did not too many teams win the championship on NBC at least you had different champions on ABC and CBS we have not have good players because that's why the NBA has not been good over the years I missed it being on CBS then NBC sorry to break y'all hearts on this one!!!😢
Amen to that. An NBC pregame opener could bring me to tears. Particularly the one for 1999 NBA Finals game 1 ("Uncertainty defined the New York Knicks regular season. But when this unconventional group of stars lost their leader, they never lost hope. Instead it inspired them to last second heroics and team harmony that had the critics wondering and the fans begging...could the eighth seed do it again?" This was all done off memory by the way). I'm not sure an ABC/ESPN pregame opener has ever even gotten me more excited to watch a game than I already was. The only thing they do that I like leading into the games is that cgi montage for the history of the NBA Finals. That is really cool. And I like Mike Breen, he's cool. They just come up short in so many other ways though. They don't appeal to the emotions the way NBC used to.
Just like NBC sucks in covering the NHL. Ever since ESPN/ABC lost the US NHL rights to NBC the NHL's TV ratings have gone down the toilet to the point in which the MLS, NASCAR, Golf and even the UFC have overtaken it in overall TV ratings. When the NHL was on ESPN from the mid 80's to 2004 that was the 2nd golden age for the NHL (the first was from the early 50's to 1975) because there was an equal playing field for both American and Canadian clubs to compete for the Stanley Cup. Sadly since the NHL signed the deal with NBC American teams especially Chicago, LA and Pittsburgh have dominated the league leaving all of the Canadian teams including Montreal struggling to compete with them.
CatholicTraditional I agree FOX did a great job with the NHL. I hope they get the rights back along with ESPN/ABC when the contract with NBC ends in two years especially since FOX has a cable network in FS1 to cover games.
1:52 Okay, Marv, thanks very much. And as Marv himself would say, "it should be pointed out" that Marv is celebrating his forty-ninth birthday tonight for a record twelfth consecutive year. Well, another season is in the books. The Lakers' title run continues with perhaps no end in sight. But as Marv said, we have reached the end of our run with the NBA. NBC's twelve years televising the league had been filled with indelible moments. And so, as we say good night, here's an appreciative look back. And for one last time, you've been watching the NBA on NBC.
When kids today grab their iPads to watch the NBA on ABC with a Warriors vs an undermanned San Antonio Spurs team and call that amazing basketball I just laugh and appreciate a video like this so much more, I love the NBA on NBC!
I think there is some hope of the NBA on NBC making a return in the next few years: The reason why I think this is because not only does ESPN/ABC’s contract with broadcasting NBA games expire within the next few years (ending in the 2024-25 season) the NHL finally made a return to ESPN recently, meaning that it can kind of slow down some of the NBA broadcasts. Meanwhile on NBC’s part, the only major sport that is nationally televised now that isn’t regionally broadcasted is the NFL. They recently lost their NHL rights to ESPN and TNT. So they will probably start making some moves to try and acquire broadcast rights for the NBA to help get them more viewership on the sports side of things. The theme for NBA on NBC may not be able to return however, because the creator of the song sold their rights to the song to Fox where it’s now being used for College Basketball. However, the actual program of NBA on NBC still has a chance at a return soon.
I have to agree with both of you. I was thinking about this the other day and the reason why I think it will be ESPN/ABC and USA/NBC in the next contract is because of streaming. As great as TNT is, I don't think they'll put their games on HBO Max which they should in order to keep them. On the other hand, ESPN/ABC will definitely put their games on ESPN+ and USA/NBC will definitely put their games on Peacock. And even though they're probably not interested, CBS could possibly be a potential contender too. Sure CBS lacks room on their schedule not to mention the CBS Sports Network is on higher tiers. However, Paramount+ could stream them and that would be huge not to mention that many of TNT's announcers also work for CBS as well. It would be a seamless transition. Plus, CBS could do games on Saturday night since there's no golf and that would help ABC too because they could move their NHL games to a nighttime slot. It's a win/win.
I remember when i was a kid, after iwatched an nba on nbc game i went outside to my backyard and played and imitated the same gqme i watched, the players, their typical ways of shootong free throws as well as the comentators (matt goukas,marv albert, steve snapper jones, bill walton, greg gumbel as well as the side reporters) i eas just absolutely obsessed with the nba on nbc lol
NBC & the NBA is such a perfect marriage. I am cool with ESPN/ABC & TNT renewing the rights in ‘25 if they do. But it would be great to see NBC, TNT & TBS take over again for say another ten year run with the most epic nba theme ever 🎶 🦚 🏀
At the time this happened, one thing that ABC had that NBC didn't was an all-sports channel to put games on, that channel being ESPN. NBC does have their own sports network now, but they've chosen to acquire the rights to NHL hockey games instead, as that's what the main network had started showing since about the mid-2000s, after the league lost an entire season to a lockout.
This was great..NBC always used music from movie soundtracks as part of their promos. Here, they used James Horner's work from The Perfect Storm. Top quality!
If you thought this was said (i remember this very well in June 2002) check out CBS sad end from June 14 1990. The NBA hasn't been the same since both networks was outbidded.
Say what you want about the talent (I’ve heard various reactions), but one thing that nobody can take away from it is the presentation, which is some of the best we’ve ever seen
Wow! I have goosebumps after watching all of the highlights from those historic games. I can't believe I was actually fortunate enough to see all of those games live, as they happened. I'm somewhat biased having grown up watching the NBA on NBC, but after watching older CBS & newer TNT footage over the years I thought NBC was the best out of the lot. They were a great/the best network in the 90's I.M.H.O
Everyone should post it all over social media to bring it back to NBC plus email the crap out of them!!!!!! I don't like ABC nowhere near as much! Need it to come back please cable gods.
The loss of the NBA in 2002 to ABC/ESPN was the final culmination of NBC Sports' late '90s-early 2000s "dork age". They were in essence, in a position that CBS Sports was at in the mid-'90s, when they didn't have the rights to any of the major pro team sports. They already lost the NFL's AFC package to CBS in 1997-98 (because NBC felt that it didn't make fiscal sense to keep broadcasting football if they were albeit guaranteed to inevitably lose money on it) and the MLB package (which they were already one foot out of the door anyway) to Fox completely in 2000. After they lost those major sports and before they landed the "Sunday Night Football" package in 2006, their long term deal w/ the Olympics was really all that NBC going for themselves.
One of the main reasons other than getting SNF that NBC improved their sports coverage was getting the rights to the NHL from ESPN/ABC after the 2005 lockout. Nowadays NBC has the NFL, NHL, Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, the 2nd half of the NASCAR season, English Premier League soccer, and starting this year the Indycar Series and the Indy 500.
@@chrisguardiano6143 A lot of the problems with NBC Sports during the 2000s I would like to pin mainly on Dick Ebersol. NBC was too conservative. They didn't want to spend the money that needed to be spent in order to maintain the rights to the major sports packages like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. NBC was also slow to the curb when it came to adapting a consistent on-screen scoring graphic like Fox. forum.quartertothree.com/t/so-why-does-dick-ebersol-still-have-a-job-running-nbc-sports/57196 deadspin.com/5449864/ex-nbc-sports-employee-dick-ebersol-is-the-biggest-failure-of-them-all www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/ex-nbc-sports-employee-dick-ebersol-is-the-biggest-failure-of-them-all.200131/page-2#post-2080213
I think that when NBC had to fire Marv Albert in 1997 because his off camera "issues" at the time, was really when the "NBA on NBC" started to lose its luster. This was coupled with Michael Jordan retiring for the second time (thus, NBC's golden goose was gone) and the forthcoming lockout out, and you could kind of sense that NBC was beginning to lose their interest or passion in the NBA.
Coming fall 2025, the NBA on NBC returns. It's been a long 23 years since the last time the NBA was on NBC and it's officially coming back with round ball rock.
I was 10 when this happened, I actually taped the whole game 4 here in '02. Those were the days, I miss taping things but that's what DVR is for.I miss the NBA on NBC, I grew up watching Jordan and the Bulls of the 2nd 3-peat and they were my team. Does anyone know the name of the song at 3:42?
23 years later, the NBA ON NBC is back!
Hopefully it’s a good presentation
@@fortynights1513 without marv or Bob costas, it won't be
The NBA needs to can ABC, bring NBC back, and keep TNT.
Agreed the NHL needs to do the opposite and drop NBC and return to ESPN/ABC. It seemed when the NBA and the NHL switched broadcast partners the quality of the broadcasts fell dramatically. The NHL on NBC is awful with too much focus on American teams (even the terrible ones) and no respect for the Canadian teams.
Bring back nba on tbs
ABC spending that money. Billions!
@@chrisguardiano6143 Guess what? Your wish has been granted.
Yeah nbc was incredible I hate espn n abc…tnt is bad ass though
This was a sad moment when the NBA on NBC went away...the intros, Bob Costas storied Intros, Hearing Marv Albert say, “YES!” Some of the greatest games I’ve EVER witnessed as a kid was during this era...The NBA needs to Bring it Back!
There in talks to bring it back 2024
It is official. NBA on NBC returns in 2025......at the expense of losing TNT coverage.
the NBA on NBC was my childhood :)
And mine too!
The NBA on CBS was my childhood.
Mines too
Definitely mines- the teenage years
Same here!
Remember the triple headers every Sunday boy talk bout memories
The NBA on NBC coincided to air the best era in basketball history. And their intro, theme and montage for every single game made it that much better. Best memories.
The greatest era of NBA.
Many many epic intros.
Yes and now we have Wenbanyama…..
Marv Albert and Bob Costas hosted the first and last telecasts of the NBA on NBC! What an ironic bookend to the show's 12-season run!
I love being 33 I grew in the most perfect eras of all time I remember seeing the last game and this live with my brothers in our room. Product of the late 80s 90s kid and 2000s teen and 10s college 👌🏼💯
NBA on NBC must come back. The game coverage was extraordinary and has suffered since they left NBC
Likely will
As the old saying goes, "Ask and ye shall receive!"
Coming in 2025... "THIS IS THE NBA ON NBC!"
The NBA on NBC was so good and also the NBA during the 90's was great and i miss these days of the NBA on NBC
Chad Baughman why didn't NBC fought very very very hard to get the NBA back?
20 years. Still miss the NBA on NBC dearly.
Me too would love to see it come back hell even bring it back on CBS that would be better than ABC
If NBC ever shows NBA games again...... Bring back the theme song! that was my childhood soundtrack!
Edward Goodwin i dont think they will
Fox sports has it now
mannn can you guys imagine if the NBA on NBC was still in effect this year..can ya imagine the epic intro that NBC was going to make for the Cavs and Warriors..with these epic commentators and broadcasters..man I miss this $!
NBA on TNT is the closest thing to this now. THey doing a pretty good job carrying the torch.
How I wish NBA should return to NBC.
Tnt is trash compared to this they always have been including back then
I miss the NBA on NBC,they did the best job. From Roundball Rock to Showtime to Marv and the announcers.
Saddest day in my life. Miss those NBC triple headers on Sunday.
You've got a good life friend
Marv Albert, Steve Snapper Jones, "The Czar of the Telestrator" Mike Fratello, Bob Costas....NBA on NBC memories!
Don't forget Hannah Storm!
@@danalong1237 and my maaaaaaiiiiiiinnnnnn man Ahmad!
And greg gumbel and the nba inside stuff series!
And what about jim gray?! Hahaha
Tom Tolbert
Will never forget this great era of basketball. NBC did an outstanding job of bringing all the great matchups during the seasons into our own living room. And there were alot of good teams during the NBA on NBC era. We all know about the Bulls dynasty, the Rockets and their back 2 back titles, the Spurs with Robinson and Duncan and the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. But other teams were pretty good during that time like the Kings, Suns, Sonics, 76ers, Heat, Hawks, Pistons, Hornets, Bucks, Knicks and Pacers. But what really made the games go on NBC were the announcers. They made the NBA fun to watch. Starting with Marv Albert and his partner for the first 3 season Mike ''the czar of the telestrator'' Fratello. Then along came other good announcers like Dick Enberg, Tom Hammond, Greg Gumbel, Dan Hicks and later Mike Breen. And the analysts such as Bill Walton, Steve ''Snapper'' Jones, Magic Johnson, Doug Collins, Matt Guokas, and PJ Carlesimo. And lets not forget Bob Costas, the original host of Showtime before he got promoted to pxp guy after Marv was fired after his assault on a lady in 1997. This was such a great time to be a basketball fan in the 90s. Miss that era. Always loved the NBA on NBC and its theme song. Got me ready to watch the big games on that day. Loved every minute of that era from 1991-2002. Too bad we don't have that kind of basketball anymore.
Let’s not forget Tom Tolbert. He brought some respectability to the studio analyst position after Jayson Williams was fired from NBC for killing his limo driver in February of 2002.
Anyone notice when bob costas say the lakers title run continues with perhaps no ending insight. Who would have thought that was shaq and Kobe last title. Their egos cost them a decade of dominance. They should have own the 2000s decade.
Rest In Peace, Kobe Bryant.
28 years of CBS and NBC combined 1974-2002. Those years featured the absolute best era of NBA basketball, the dynasties of Boston and Bird, L.A. Lakers, Kareem and Magic(first time, Shaq and Kobe, 2nd time), Philadelphia 76ers, Dr. J, Detroit Pistons, Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and bad boys, and the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets, and the Spurs, David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
No question about that!!! CBS and NBC will always be the greatest networks to air NBA basketball.
I feel like with CBS, it didn't really enter it's own "definitive" golden era until that CGI intro of Boston Garden created by Bill Feigenbaum along with Allyson Bellink's theme music was first used in the 1983 NBA Finals. A year later, was the very first meeting of Magic Johnson's Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics in the Finals, who were the two figures credited with turning the NBA's fortunes around.
@@TMC1982Part2 In the ‘70’s, the Finals on CBS weren’t even on live...they were on tape delay at midnight.
@@TMC1982Part2 She was excellent with that theme. CBS used that theme during their last 7 years. Would you believe they used The Alan Parsons Project for the 1982 season!!!
@@CatholicTraditional Exactly. During the weekdays the finals came on at 11:30 PM after the local news where I'm from. CBS wouldn't even show trophy celebrations bc they had to show the Kemper Open smh. They didn't do anything with the NBA until Bird & Magic
Paul Pierce being in this montage is crazy. And I love Paul Pierce.
Love that ending. Having a B-ball tossed away in an empty gym. Kinda like at the end of a pick-up game. Perfect. And it made me say, "NBC did their thing." ....Emotional stuff. 7:25
I definitely miss the NBA on NBC! I grew up watching the NBA on this channel. It's not the same on ABC or ESPN for that matter.
The NBA on NBC was something special to watch- you were into the games, the rivalries. Marv Albert’s infamous “Yes,” and the one that was legendary- “Yes and it counts- something special hearing his telecasts.
I teared up watching this when it aired, because I knew it was the end of an era and to me, the best era
If you want to see nba on nbc back, gimme a hell yeah!!!!!!!
Hell yeah
We have football guys...
...but I miss the old memories from the NBA. HELL YEAH!
Khristian james Calderon Hell yes as well
HELL TO THE YEAH!!!
And if you wanna see Tracy Wolfson and Allie LaForce share sideline reporting duties for the Final Four, the National Championship and the Super Bowl every three years, gimme a hell yeah!
I am looking forward to the day that "NBA on ABC/ESPN Memories (Final game aired)" actually gets televised and then posted to youtube....
John Tran probably won’t happen anytime soon, Disney has the money to keep paying the licensing every time especially how much money the nba brings in now
The CBS era was the golden of basketball on the court and the silver era of basketball on television. The NBC era was the silver era of basketball on the court and the golden era of basketball on television. The soul of the NBA died the night the NBC era ended.
The CBS era (at least in the '80s, until the end of their coverage in 1990) was defined by Larry Bird's Boston Celtics, Julius Erving's Philadelphia 76ers, the "Showtime" era Lakers, and the "Bad Boys" era Detroit Pistons. The NBC era was defined by Michael Jordan, the Houston Rockets' dynasty in the interim of Jordan's first retirement, and the Shaq-Kobe led Lakers dynasty. I think that the San Antonio Spurs (led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson in 1999), were the only team of the NBA on NBC era (1990-2002), not named Bulls, Lakers, or Rockets to win the NBA Championship.
@@TMC1982Part2did not too many teams win the championship on NBC at least you had different champions on ABC and CBS we have not have good players because that's why the NBA has not been good over the years I missed it being on CBS then NBC sorry to break y'all hearts on this one!!!😢
Had some of the greatest games, players, and moments throughout this period. NBA on NBC was the best. Period. That was my childhood.
NBA needs to return to NBC where it belongs.
Same the Olympics on ABC
NBA and TNBC were 90s Peacock
In fall of 2025 you got it.
NBA on NBC started with Jordan being a champ, ended with Jordan retiring.
And thus the NBA was never as good again.
Amen to that. An NBC pregame opener could bring me to tears. Particularly the one for 1999 NBA Finals game 1 ("Uncertainty defined the New York Knicks regular season. But when this unconventional group of stars lost their leader, they never lost hope. Instead it inspired them to last second heroics and team harmony that had the critics wondering and the fans begging...could the eighth seed do it again?" This was all done off memory by the way). I'm not sure an ABC/ESPN pregame opener has ever even gotten me more excited to watch a game than I already was. The only thing they do that I like leading into the games is that cgi montage for the history of the NBA Finals. That is really cool. And I like Mike Breen, he's cool. They just come up short in so many other ways though. They don't appeal to the emotions the way NBC used to.
+Snowman's World Too bad my Celtics never won a title on NBC!
Just like NBC sucks in covering the NHL. Ever since ESPN/ABC lost the US NHL rights to NBC the NHL's TV ratings have gone down the toilet to the point in which the MLS, NASCAR, Golf and even the UFC have overtaken it in overall TV ratings. When the NHL was on ESPN from the mid 80's to 2004 that was the 2nd golden age for the NHL (the first was from the early 50's to 1975) because there was an equal playing field for both American and Canadian clubs to compete for the Stanley Cup. Sadly since the NHL signed the deal with NBC American teams especially Chicago, LA and Pittsburgh have dominated the league leaving all of the Canadian teams including Montreal struggling to compete with them.
FOX did a good job with the NHL and the highlighted puck.
CatholicTraditional I agree FOX did a great job with the NHL. I hope they get the rights back along with ESPN/ABC when the contract with NBC ends in two years especially since FOX has a cable network in FS1 to cover games.
20 years ago today. Still miss it.
20 years since the NBA left NBC.
that theme will always be in my heart
RIP Snapper Jones
RIP Bill Walton 😭
1:52 Okay, Marv, thanks very much. And as Marv himself would say, "it should be pointed out" that Marv is celebrating his forty-ninth birthday tonight for a record twelfth consecutive year. Well, another season is in the books. The Lakers' title run continues with perhaps no end in sight. But as Marv said, we have reached the end of our run with the NBA. NBC's twelve years televising the league had been filled with indelible moments. And so, as we say good night, here's an appreciative look back. And for one last time, you've been watching the NBA on NBC.
When kids today grab their iPads to watch the NBA on ABC with a Warriors vs an undermanned San Antonio Spurs team and call that amazing basketball I just laugh and appreciate a video like this so much more, I love the NBA on NBC!
I think there is some hope of the NBA on NBC making a return in the next few years:
The reason why I think this is because not only does ESPN/ABC’s contract with broadcasting NBA games expire within the next few years (ending in the 2024-25 season) the NHL finally made a return to ESPN recently, meaning that it can kind of slow down some of the NBA broadcasts.
Meanwhile on NBC’s part, the only major sport that is nationally televised now that isn’t regionally broadcasted is the NFL. They recently lost their NHL rights to ESPN and TNT. So they will probably start making some moves to try and acquire broadcast rights for the NBA to help get them more viewership on the sports side of things.
The theme for NBA on NBC may not be able to return however, because the creator of the song sold their rights to the song to Fox where it’s now being used for College Basketball. However, the actual program of NBA on NBC still has a chance at a return soon.
I have to agree with both of you. I was thinking about this the other day and the reason why I think it will be ESPN/ABC and USA/NBC in the next contract is because of streaming. As great as TNT is, I don't think they'll put their games on HBO Max which they should in order to keep them. On the other hand, ESPN/ABC will definitely put their games on ESPN+ and USA/NBC will definitely put their games on Peacock. And even though they're probably not interested, CBS could possibly be a potential contender too. Sure CBS lacks room on their schedule not to mention the CBS Sports Network is on higher tiers. However, Paramount+ could stream them and that would be huge not to mention that many of TNT's announcers also work for CBS as well. It would be a seamless transition. Plus, CBS could do games on Saturday night since there's no golf and that would help ABC too because they could move their NHL games to a nighttime slot. It's a win/win.
The glory days of basketball was when the NBA was on NBC... and also the NBA on nbc had the best theme song in all of sports history...
RIP Bill Walton
Those three guys make up arguably one of if not the best broadcasting trio in NBA history.
nbc has the best intros game ever. the voice marv and bob is a epic thx for emotion
I remember when i was a kid, after iwatched an nba on nbc game i went outside to my backyard and played and imitated the same gqme i watched, the players, their typical ways of shootong free throws as well as the comentators (matt goukas,marv albert, steve snapper jones, bill walton, greg gumbel as well as the side reporters) i eas just absolutely obsessed with the nba on nbc lol
NBC & the NBA is such a perfect marriage. I am cool with ESPN/ABC & TNT renewing the rights in ‘25 if they do. But it would be great to see NBC, TNT & TBS take over again for say another ten year run with the most epic nba theme ever 🎶 🦚 🏀
R.I.P Snapper Jones
At the time this happened, one thing that ABC had that NBC didn't was an all-sports channel to put games on, that channel being ESPN. NBC does have their own sports network now, but they've chosen to acquire the rights to NHL hockey games instead, as that's what the main network had started showing since about the mid-2000s, after the league lost an entire season to a lockout.
There is no other video on RUclips that makes me happier and sadder than this one does.
Glad I got to see this when I was kid I was definitely disappointed and sad nbc lost it .
Twenty years today.
12 June 2022.
AND.... THEY'RE BACK.
RIP Bill Walton ,Former NBA On NBC Analyst Died ,May 2024,Age 71,He'll Be Dearly Missed
This was great..NBC always used music from movie soundtracks as part of their promos. Here, they used James Horner's work from The Perfect Storm. Top quality!
On the other hand NBC still has the Olympic Games broadcast rights in the United States. 🇺🇸
Bob: "The Lakers' title run continues with perhaps no end in sight."
Until the very next season.
I used to be sad every time I watched this video but now knowing the NBA is coming back to NBC I can watch it with a smile.
It started with Jordan/Pippen and Phil Jackson
And it ended with Shaq/Kobe and Phi Jackson
Anybody notice the name "Adam Silver" under NBA Entertainment President (I think that's what it was)?
Game 5 of Bulls/Knicks 1993 ECF is still greatest game of all time. Who could forget the Chucky intro. Amazing memories for so many of us.
If you thought this was said (i remember this very well in June 2002) check out CBS sad end from June 14 1990. The NBA hasn't been the same since both networks was outbidded.
I Love "Yes! ! It's Count By Michael Jordan!!”
Without Jordan, the NBA on NBC bombed, plus Marv Albert’s crime. It was the peak era of NBA basketball, and nothing since has come close.
So sad...so many great memories...the nba of today is definately ot even compared to the nba of the 90s and early 2000 😪😪😪😪
I hope someday that the NBA return on NBC
It will in 2025 Fall!
This was a sad moment .... 😓
That was my childhood double header on Saturdays and triple header on Sundays
Nostalgia aside, this may have been the Greatest Era in Basketball History
Say what you want about the talent (I’ve heard various reactions), but one thing that nobody can take away from it is the presentation, which is some of the best we’ve ever seen
That was the worst day in nba history! Miss those days, it was the best basketball ever!
Thanx for uploading I was looking for this.
R.I.P. To Bill Walton And Steve "Snapper" Jones.
Wow! I have goosebumps after watching all of the highlights from those historic games. I can't believe I was actually fortunate enough to see all of those games live, as they happened. I'm somewhat biased having grown up watching the NBA on NBC, but after watching older CBS & newer TNT footage over the years I thought NBC was the best out of the lot. They were a great/the best network in the 90's I.M.H.O
NBA on NBC is long gone, but the theme song Roundball Rock is still used on Fox college basketball broadcasts.
Less than 14 months the nba returns to NBC
Sources are saying they are making a pitch to retain the rights! Please make it happen!
This year should have been on for 67 years
After watching the NHL farewell NBC knows how to go out the right way
I Was Crying When NBA On NBC Ended I Was Like Part Of My Childhood Was Over
Why is the NBA always on TNT not everyone has cable TV. Wouldn't they get more viewers if it was on NBC since everyone has that channel
NBA is walking away from tnt now because cable is dying
Rip NBA on NBC 2002
Everyone should post it all over social media to bring it back to NBC plus email the crap out of them!!!!!! I don't like ABC nowhere near as much!
Need it to come back please cable gods.
The NBA is coming back to NBC in 2025.
The loss of the NBA in 2002 to ABC/ESPN was the final culmination of NBC Sports' late '90s-early 2000s "dork age". They were in essence, in a position that CBS Sports was at in the mid-'90s, when they didn't have the rights to any of the major pro team sports. They already lost the NFL's AFC package to CBS in 1997-98 (because NBC felt that it didn't make fiscal sense to keep broadcasting football if they were albeit guaranteed to inevitably lose money on it) and the MLB package (which they were already one foot out of the door anyway) to Fox completely in 2000. After they lost those major sports and before they landed the "Sunday Night Football" package in 2006, their long term deal w/ the Olympics was really all that NBC going for themselves.
One of the main reasons other than getting SNF that NBC improved their sports coverage was getting the rights to the NHL from ESPN/ABC after the 2005 lockout. Nowadays NBC has the NFL, NHL, Olympics, the Kentucky Derby, the 2nd half of the NASCAR season, English Premier League soccer, and starting this year the Indycar Series and the Indy 500.
@@chrisguardiano6143 A lot of the problems with NBC Sports during the 2000s I would like to pin mainly on Dick Ebersol. NBC was too conservative. They didn't want to spend the money that needed to be spent in order to maintain the rights to the major sports packages like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. NBC was also slow to the curb when it came to adapting a consistent on-screen scoring graphic like Fox.
forum.quartertothree.com/t/so-why-does-dick-ebersol-still-have-a-job-running-nbc-sports/57196
deadspin.com/5449864/ex-nbc-sports-employee-dick-ebersol-is-the-biggest-failure-of-them-all
www.satelliteguys.us/xen/threads/ex-nbc-sports-employee-dick-ebersol-is-the-biggest-failure-of-them-all.200131/page-2#post-2080213
@@TMC1982Part2 They got a major sports league, the NHL.
@@notoriouseagle1074 Which they don't have anymore following the 2020-21 season, since ABC/ESPN and TNT now each have a piece of the NHL contract.
Thanks for the memories.
And at the start of summer vacation 2002
Peggy Bundy Crying Because The Final Air NBA On NBC
RIP KOBE
Returning in 2025-This is the NBA on NBC!
Rest in peace kobe
NBC is now trying to get the NBA back
Now they do. It's coming back in 2025
@@user-ks8kn4hx8q yup I just found out last week and I'm all for it since cable TV is declining and too expensive.
@@dreamcage1801. Plus ESPN has gotten stale and predictable over the last 10 Years or more🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿
@@allengreene9954 espn was good in the 00s until after I say after 2014
Marv Albert’s last NBA Finals 1991-1997, 2001-2002
I think that when NBC had to fire Marv Albert in 1997 because his off camera "issues" at the time, was really when the "NBA on NBC" started to lose its luster. This was coupled with Michael Jordan retiring for the second time (thus, NBC's golden goose was gone) and the forthcoming lockout out, and you could kind of sense that NBC was beginning to lose their interest or passion in the NBA.
They was nice enough to rehire Marv Albert
Who's here after seeing that nbc is gonna get the nba back
Coming fall 2025, the NBA on NBC returns. It's been a long 23 years since the last time the NBA was on NBC and it's officially coming back with round ball rock.
The NBA on NBC and the Olympics on ABC both need to return at some point.
I was 10 when this happened, I actually taped the whole game 4 here in '02. Those were the days, I miss taping things but that's what DVR is for.I miss the NBA on NBC, I grew up watching Jordan and the Bulls of the 2nd 3-peat and they were my team. Does anyone know the name of the song at 3:42?
The presentation and production they put into it was top notch. Far from abc/espn nowadays.
Screw ESPN/ABC NBA telecasts, just bring back NBC & keep TNT forever.
Best of basketball on tv
CBS and NBC should share the NBA package.
2:55-3:25 In case you don't know, that's "American Symphony" from "Mr. Holland's Opus"