NBC’s NBA nostalgia: Bob Costas narrates previews for Knicks-Bucks, Clippers-Warriors

The NBA’s return to NBC has conjured up plenty of nostalgia. Last year, the NBA announced a new media rights deal that largely returned its coverage to the network, which last aired NBA games during the 2001-02 season.

The agreement means NBC/Peacock will distribute up to 100 regular-season NBA games and serve as the home for the NBA’s All-Star Weekend.

Moreover, come playoff time, NBC/Peacock is set to broadcast 28 games in the first two rounds and, starting this season, will air one of the league’s conference finals series in six of the 11 seasons covered by the media rights deal.

Basketball fans who grew up humming “Roundball Rock” in the 1990s have been pleasantly surprised by its return, a reminder of the NBA’s broadcasting peak during the Michael Jordan era. Last week, the network aired an interview between Jordan and correspondent Mike Tirico, tapping into the excitement of merging past NBA lore with the league’s present and future stars.

NBC stirred more fond memories with Bob Costas narrating separate intros for Tuesday night’s slate, highlighted by Knicks-Bucks and Warriors-Clippers. Costas is a 29-time Emmy winner and worked for NBC Sports from 1980-2019. The 73-year-old’s work across multiple sports, including the Olympics, made him a known and trusted voice in sports coverage. Costas was NBC’s lead play-by-play announcer for the NBA from 1997-2000 in addition to hosting NBC’s pregame show, “NBA Showtime,” from 1990-96.

BOB COSTAS GETS YOU READY FOR KNICKS-BUCKS!

Tune-in to the game on NBC (ET/CT/Select MT) and Peacock at 8PM ET. pic.twitter.com/mj5Ni8bQX8

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 28, 2025

BOB COSTAS GETS YOU SET FOR WARRIORS-CLIPPERS!

Tune-in on NBC (PT/Select MT) and Peacock at 8PM PT. pic.twitter.com/x1UGKip4L5

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) October 28, 2025