NBA’s newest stars are too young to recognize the ‘NBA on NBC’ and ‘Roundball Rock’ – The New York Times

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"The NBA on NBC" has officially returned to the basketball world. David Dow / Getty Images
Queue up “Roundball Rock,” “The NBA on NBC” is back.
That might mean a lot to fans who grew up watching Michael Jordan duel with Reggie Miller back in the 1990s, but it seems to mean far less to today’s stars.
When asked ahead of Tuesday night’s Oklahoma City-Houston matchup what memories come to mind when he heard the phrase “The NBA and NBC,” Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s reigning MVP, said: “I have no … none, zero.”
He added, incredulously: “1990s?”
ABSOLUTE CHILLS.
Cue up Roundball Rock … the NBA is BACK on NBC and Peacock. 🏀🤩 pic.twitter.com/bd745aFqMg
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 21, 2025

The responses of SGA and other stars to that question were shared in an NBC Sports social media post Tuesday night that celebrated the return of professional basketball to the network.
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“The NBA on NBC” was a staple for the league’s fans from 1990-2002. However, like SGA, current players were hard-pressed to even describe what it was.
“Oh, I need a memory from then?” asked Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.
“I wasn’t old enough,” said Knicks star Jalen Brunson. He was soon one-upped by OKC’s Chet Holmgren, who laughed: “I wasn’t alive, man.”
Victor Wembanyama, who was born in 2004, nearly two years after Holmgren (and in France, no less), teased: “You’re joking, right?”
At least Anthony Edwards has the savvy to make an educated guess: “Michael Jordan.”
Jordan, who debuted as a special contributor to NBC on Tuesday night, also sat down for the cameras, calling the era one of “authenticity.”
“You could feel the contention. You could feel the competitiveness on the basketball court,” he said.
Patrick Ewing, a frequent foil for Jordan in those days, wrapped up the video perfectly, twirling his finger and saying, “Queue up the music.”
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