Meet the Employees at NBC Sports Bringing the NBA to Life Across NBC and Peacock

1998 NBA Finals on NBC.

How is NBCUniversal leaning into nostalgia for the NBA to introduce and reintroduce different generations of fans?

Lyndsay Signor (SVP, Consumer Engagement): "Roundball Rock!" The iconic track that was so integral in the NBA on NBC in the 90s is the perfect way for us to bring nostalgia to the present with a nod to our past while also engaging the future fan today.

Justin Byczek (EVP, Programming & Rights Management): There is a certain emotional connection to many generations of NBA fans when it comes to the NBA on NBC. While we will pull at some of the nostalgic heartstrings with pieces that are familiar to these fans, like using John Tesh's iconic NBA on NBC theme "Roundball Rock" to open our game broadcasts, we also need to be cognizant that this is a modern game with new stars and must continue to appeal to the next generation of fans. So, a nod, and a wink looking back – but the windshield always needs to be larger than the rearview mirror when thinking about how to launch a property and bring it to the present day.

Frank DiGraci (Coordinating Producer): It starts with the music. When you hear "Roundball Rock" you instantly think of the NBA on NBC. What's exciting about its return is that John Tesh and our team updated the original, so we have a few different versions. This way you won't be hearing the same song night after night, but it will still have that nostalgic feel.

Stacey Georgiou (VP, Production Engineering): We're embracing the nostalgia of NBC's iconic NBA coverage by reintroducing elements that longtime fans remember – while also using fresh storytelling, technology, and platforms to connect with a new generation. It's about balancing the excitement of what made NBC's NBA coverage legendary with innovative ways to deliver the game today.

Pierre Moossa (Coordinating Producer): The foundation of our coverage is to make the game the STAR again. NBA on NBC was renowned for first class coverage and storytelling. We celebrated the game and created stars. These will again be our core principles of our broadcasts. We will also have a couple other nods to the past with live player introductions and of course the "Roundball Rock" theme song, that was synonymous with NBA coverage. "Roundball Rock" was the soundtrack for so many people, and it will be for the next generation of NBA fans.

Billy Matthews and Magic Johnson at the 1993 NBA finals.

What is your favorite NBA memory and what excites you the most about having the NBA back on NBC?

Sam Flood (Executive Producer and President, Production): Watching Michael Jordan become the GOAT and lead the Bulls to six championships. We were fortunate to cover the games most dynamic player who refused to lose. We look forward to telling the stories of the next generation of stars who will carry the NBA to new heights.

Kelly Atkinson (Coordinating Producer): My favorite memory is Michael Jordan winning his first NBA title in 1991 when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Lakers. I had the privilege of directing NBC Showtime and was in the chair directing the post-game show during the famous shot of Jordan crying while holding the NBA Championship trophy.

Pierre Moosa: Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, Robert Horry hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie the series. We were in the mobile unit in the loading dock of the Staples Center and the whole truck shook from the noise and excitement in the arena. It was a take your breath away moment. There is nothing like an NBA buzzer beater! We are all so excited to create new NBA memories and bring those awe-inspiring moments to our viewers.

1992 NBA finals on NBC.

Taking us behind the scenes, how has technology and the social media landscape evolved to bring the NBA broadcasts to both NBC and Peacock?

Tim Canary (SVP, Engineering): We had 3 primary TV channels to watch – and very few opportunities to re-watch great plays or focus on alternate views. The technology available today provides so very many ways to consume sporting content and NBC Sports is working hard to leverage and build upon the technology to appeal to an ever-expanding audience.

Stacey Georgiou: Technology has completely transformed the way we tell stories. From advanced replay systems and enhanced graphics to seamless integration across broadcast and streaming, we can reach fans wherever they are. Social media adds another layer – it gives fans a voice, creates real-time interaction, and allows us to extend NBA moments far beyond the broadcast window.

Kelly Atkinson: I think being able to immediately access highlights and player/coach reactions has changed the way the younger generation of NBA fans consume NBA content compared to 25 years ago.

Justin Byczek: We have over 100 regular season games as part of our NBA package and then a huge chunk of Playoff games – plus Opening Night, MLK Day quadruple header and of course All-Star Weekend from Los Angeles in February.  My team has been responsible for building out the schedule of games with the NBA – both the programming windows and the specific game matchups.  This is a new challenge for the League given they now have three media partners to provide robust games for.  

BTS of the 1992 NBA finals.

How are your teams planning for the three broadcasts per week?

Tim Canary: We work closely with our production partners to ensure we have the right technology and systems to deliver the intended product. We're building upon an initiative we started years ago to ensure flexibility in our systems to meet the evolving needs of production operations and anticipate areas of growth while focusing on sustainable, reliable, and consistent technology choices.

Pierre Moossa: What's so special about NBC is the collaboration. From operations, to technical, to research, to social, to digital, to production, everyone works together to support each broadcast. With 100 regular season games plus playoffs from October to June, the scope and scale is significant so everyone has worked together to create workflows that will allow us to produce a large quantity of games at a quality level.

Behind the scenes of the NBA on NBC in 1991. 

Were you involved in the NBA in the 90s? – If yes, what did you do?

Pierre Moossa: Yes, I was straight out of college and immediately started working on the NBA on NBC in the spring of the 1999-2000 season as a tape PA. I was responsible for editing flashbacks and elements for our coverage. The following season, I was on the Tom Hammond, Snapper Jones, and Bill Walton team as a graphics PA, responsible for the on-air score and all graphics on the screen. We covered the Eastern Conference for the playoffs including First Round Game 5 (New York/Toronto), Conference Semifinals Game 7 (Philadelphia/Toronto) and Conference Finals Game 7 (Philadelphia/Milwaukee). It was an exhilarating playoff run, but my fondest memory was how much fun we had!

Sam Flood: When we launched the NBA on NBC I was the writer for Pat Riley and our studio show, NBA Showtime. It was a special time with Pat who left the Lakers to join our team. Over our twelve-year run I was fortunate to become the NBA Showtime producer for the last few years.

Billy Matthews (Producer): I was an integral part of the initial launch of the NBA on NBC in the early 90s.  I was a production assistant for six years. 

Kelly Atkinson: I directed NBA Showtime, our pre/half and post-game show on NBC the 1990-1994 seasons. Bob Costas served as the studio host those years.

Kelly Atkinson and team outside of the NBC Sports mobile unit.

What was your first reaction when you heard the NBA was returning to NBC?

Sam Flood: Let's go and can't wait for our production and technical teams to work together to make NBA magic.

Lyndsay Signor: Elation! Broadcast rights are awarded for decades at a time and it is very exciting to be able to not only work on and market a new property for the future but to also reimagine how we can bring our legacy with the NBA forward to the next generation of fans. 

Tim Canary: Excitement and pride – excited for the opportunities ahead and great pride to work on marquee events with an incredibly talented team.  

Pierre Moossa: It was surreal. The NBA on NBC meant so much to so many of us and it was so awesome that it was returning. My next reaction was a feeling that we have a responsibility to continue the legacy of the NBA on NBC. 

Frank DiGraci: Let's Go!! And I would love to be a part of that. I am so grateful to Rick Cordella, President of NBC Sports and Sam Flood for making me a part of this team. It's exciting to help lead such a talented group.

BTS of the NBA on NBC in 1993.

How are you looking at social media and the unparalleled opportunities it brings with engaging the NBA fandom?

Lyndsay Signor: There is a tremendous white space on social media to tell the stories of the NBA and WNBA. While coverage and accounts of NBA are plentiful across social media and YouTube, the storytelling elements are lean and it gives us an opportunity to step into a space to super serve fans doing what we do best as storytellers.

Pierre Moossa: Social, digital, and broadcast are the three major pillars of coverage. All complement and enhance each other. Fans consume content on different platforms and in different ways. As we create a new generation of fans, we will make the NBA accessible to fans in whatever form they want and however they want to consume it. Broadcast is the traditional format to watch live games. Digital will provide complimentary long form content that is not able to make the limited time windows of the broadcast and extended highlights for those fans who missed the action. Social will speak to and engage NBA fans in an authentic and entertaining way.

Kelly Atkinson: Social media is so ubiquitous and pervasive that it can "grow" the next generation NBA stars and fans quicker than traditional marketing and media exposure.

How has the NBC Sports Headquarters in Stamford, CT been prepping for the NBA?

Sam Flood: We have designed and built an amazing new studio for the NBA on NBC. Mike Sheehan, Coordinating Director and Tom Popple, VP, Studio and Facilities Operations have teamed up to create an incredible space that everyone at NBCU will be proud to call the home of the NBA on NBC.

Pierre Moossa: All our NBA workflows and a significant amount of coverage will be produced from NBC Sports HQ. From the moment, we got the rights to the NBA, our technical and operations team have been planning and creating these workflows. In July during NBA Summer League, we did full end-to-end testing of all of our NBA workflows on-site and in Stamford to make sure we are all set for the NBA launch in October. 

Stacey Georgiou: The Stamford facility has been in full preparation mode – we have built a brand-new state of the art studio, testing systems, building brand-new workflows, and training our staff to ensure everything runs smoothly. We've been coordinating across all departments to make sure the infrastructure and support are in place for a successful launch. We are looking forward to the excitement it will bring the Stamford facility.

Tim Canary: The part that makes NBC Sports so special is the teamwork and collaboration across our many Editorial, Production, Operations, Engineering, Distribution, Finance, HR, Legal, Communications – all the groups across the company that make up one of the finest sports production teams in the industry. In Stamford, we've refined workflows, partnered with the NBA on archival/media transfers and worked closely with our Peacock Operations/Engineering/Product teams to prepare, test and launch new and exciting products for the audience.

Justin Byczek: Being part of the NBA on NBC partnership team that worked on bringing the deal to NBC was extremely gratifying and inspiring. Sports is a team game and basketball perhaps is the ultimate team game where everyone plays a part – from the stars to the role players. We have such a deep and experienced roster of folks across every business unit that will touch the NBA – one of the many reasons I can't wait to see this product on our platforms. We can't wait for October 21!

Kelly Atkinson: A new state-of-the-art studio 1 is ready to make its debut in October for the return of the NBA on NBC Sports. All facets of the Sports division – production, engineering and operations, creative services, and marketing have been working feverishly toward the start of the season.

Photos courtesy of Billy Matthews and Kelly Atkinson.