The upcoming 2025-26 season will mark the return of the NBA to NBC, and with it, one of the network’s most iconic voices will once again be part of the broadcasts, albeit in a different way. NBC has announced that it will use the voice of narrator Jim Fagan, who brought the network’s NBA coverage to life between 1990 and 2002.
Fagan, known for narrating historic moments featuring stars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, passed away in 2017. However, thanks to artificial intelligence voice synthesis technology, his voice will be recreated for use in opening sequences, promos and other elements of the production.
How NBC will recreate Jim Fagan’s voice
The recreation of Jim Fagan’s voice will be made possible through an agreement between NBC and the narrator’s family. This project follows in line with what the network already did during the Paris 2024 Olympics, when it used the voice of Al Michaels for the segment “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock.”
In a statement, Fagan’s daughters, Jana Silvia Joyce and Risa Silvia-Koonin, expressed their gratitude toward NBC for this tribute. “We are deeply grateful that NBC Sports had the vision to honor our father’s legacy in such a meaningful way. Knowing that his voice will once again be a part of the sport he loved and that a new generation of fans will be able to experience it is incredibly special to our family.”
Nostalgia in NBC’s NBA production
The return of Jim Fagan’s voice won’t be the only nostalgic element in NBC’s NBA coverage. The network also confirmed that it will use the iconic “Roundball Rock” theme song, which accompanied league broadcasts for more than a decade.
Fagan’s voice, recreated through artificial intelligence, will complement the work of other narrators and voice artists that NBC will include in its productions. According to the network, this technology will not replace traditional voices, but will “supplement” them to add a special touch to broadcasts.
NBA’s return to NBC: a multi-million dollar deal
NBA coverage on NBC will begin in October 2025 as part of an 11-year, $76 billion deal the league signed with Disney (ABC/ESPN), Amazon and NBC. This contract marks the NBA’s return to the network after more than two decades of absence, cementing a new era for sports broadcasting.
