INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Coming to this weekend’s NBA All-Star Game: John Tesh and “Roundball Rock” being performed live.
Tesh will play the song to introduce Sunday’s All-Star Game, which will be aired on NBC and Peacock, the NBA said Wednesday while unveiling the musical performers for the weekend.
Ludacris, a three-time Grammy winner, will be the headliner and will perform Saturday before the All-Star dunk contest. A pair of Grammy winners — Brandy and Sarah McLachlan — will perform the U.S. and Canadian national anthems before Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Tesh will perform “Roundball Rock” live inside a sports arena for the first time, the NBA said. The song, the league said, “celebrates the NBA All-Star Game’s return to NBC after 24 years.”
The NBA is set to deliver a dose of nostalgia as John Tesh prepares to perform his iconic theme “Roundball Rock” live at the NBA All-Star Game. The performance marks a special moment for basketball fans, reconnecting the league with one of its most recognizable musical signatures.
“Roundball Rock” first gained fame as the theme for NBC’s NBA broadcasts from 1990 to 2002. During that era, the song became synonymous with some of the league’s most memorable moments, from championship runs to All-Star showdowns.
Now, the theme returns to the spotlight as part of the NBA’s renewed partnership with NBC, which recently rejoined the league’s broadcast lineup under a long-term media agreement.
Tesh’s appearance at the All-Star Game is more than a nostalgic nod—it’s a historic first. The composer is set to perform “Roundball Rock” live inside a sports arena for the very first time, introducing the All-Star Game broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
The performance celebrates the NBA’s return to NBC after a 24-year hiatus and serves as a symbolic bridge between past and present eras of the league.
Tesh’s performance is part of a broader entertainment lineup for the All-Star festivities. Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris is scheduled to headline Saturday’s events before the slam dunk contest, while Brandy and Sarah McLachlan will perform the U.S. and Canadian national anthems ahead of Sunday’s game.
The song was the anthem for NBC’s coverage of the NBA from 1990 through 2002. NBC returned to the NBA broadcast lineup this season, the start of a new 11-year broadcast agreement for the league.
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