Today marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of the NBA on NBC. While ESPN/ABC has just begun its ninth season televising the NBA, NBC’s twelve-year run (1990-2002) remains arguably the most successful television partnership the NBA has had to date.
In recognition of the 20-year anniversary, here is a look at the ten of the best introductions NBC aired during its twelve years of coverage.
Honorable mention: Lakers/76ers Game 3, 2001
NBC went heavy on the Rocky metaphors for Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals, the first Finals game in Philadelphia in nearly 20 years, but somehow it felt appropriate after the stirring first two games. (relevant portion ends around 1:30 mark)
Honorable mention: Jazz/Bulls Game 2, 1997
Marv Albert recaps the exciting finish to Game 1 of the Jazz/Bulls NBA Finals.
#10: Knicks/Bulls regular season, 1998
This Saturday night NBA game on NBC was Michael Jordan‘s last regular season game with the Bulls, and his last Bulls game against the hated Knicks. NBC’s intro offered a brief retrospective of Jordan’s dominance of the Knicks during the 1990s.
#9: Jazz/Sonics Game 7, 1996
Game 7 always lends itself to a good introduction. In this game, Greg Gumbel describes the Jazz as facing their ‘last shot’ at the NBA Finals, and the Sonics as the ‘next generation’. Of course, the Jazz would lose to the Sonics that year, but make the Finals in both 1997 and 1998. Seattle would never host another NBA Finals.
T8: Pacers/Bulls Game 1, 1998 and Pacers/Bulls Game 5, 1998
NBC profiles two of the greatest clutch performers in NBA history twice — first, before Game 1 of their first and only playoff series, and then again after one of the greatest finishes in playoff history.
#7: Magic/Rockets Game 4, 1995
Unfortunately, the only full version of this clip is very choppy. Here is a link to a version that starts about halfway through, but does not include the skips.
This intro was a fitting tribute to the ‘other’ repeat NBA champions of the 1990s — the Houston Rockets.
#6: Bulls/Blazers Game 4, 1992
Bob Costas sums up the desperation of Clyde Drexler during the 1992 NBA Finals — and any other NBA player who has searched for an elusive championship ring.
#5: Jazz/Bulls Game 5, 1998
This introduction for what could have been the final game of Jordan’s Bulls career was short on words, but effective nonetheless.
#4: 76ers/Lakers Game 1, 2001
In his first NBA Finals game for NBC since returning to the network in ’00, Marv Albert set the stage for a David v. Goliath matchup in the 2001 NBA Finals.
#3: Bulls/Lakers Game 5, 1991
As the Bulls prepared to win their first NBA Championship, Costas put the feat into historical perspective, paying tribute to the Bulls of the past.
#2: Blazers/Bulls Game 1, 1992
Costas certainly has a way with words, as evidenced by this dramatic description of the doubt surrounding the Trail Blazers entering Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals.
#1: Bulls/Lakers Game 4, 1991
Michael Jordan and other stars have made basketball look easy for decades, but prior to Game 4 of the 1991 NBA Finals, Costas puts into perspective the difficulties facing the Bulls’ best player.
