Technically, the National Basketball Association is simply a professional basketball league in North America – But we all know that the NBA has become so much more than that.
The league is now one of the biggest sports operations in the world. It has a legendary status among players, teams and fans.
How NBA works
The NBA is currently composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and one in Canada) and is widely considered the planet’s premier men’s basketball league. The season typically consists of 82 games, followed by playoffs between the top eight teams from each conference. The two conference champions then face off in the NBA Finals. The NBA features the most talented basketball players globally. Teams are located in major cities and divided into the Eastern and Western Conference.
The top NBA teams
Top teams are changeable of course but the most historically successful teams include Los Angeles Lakers, who have been successful in various eras, and Golden State Warriors, who had a dominant run in the late 2010s.
Miami Heat had notable success in the 2000s and 2010s while San Antonio Spurs had success under coach Gregg Popovich in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, won the 2020-21 NBA Championship. As for current standings, NBA odds suggest Boston Celtics are favorites to win the 2024 Championship. Close behind are last year’s NBA Champions Denver Nuggets. The 2023 runners-up were the Miami Heat.
What are NBA anthems?
Each NBA team typically has specific music that is played during player introductions as they enter the court before a game.
These songs are chosen to energize the crowd and create a lively atmosphere in the arena. They often become iconic in their own right.
The choice of music can vary widely between teams and may include popular songs, team-specific anthems or even custom mixes.
And don’t forget that the NBA also has its own theme music that is associated with the league as a whole. One of the most iconic is the ‘NBA on ESPN’ theme, often played during broadcasts of NBA games.
The top NBA anthems
Several songs have become emotionally associated with specific teams over recent years. Here are some of the most iconic:
“Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project
This stirring jazz-rock instrumental is forever linked with the Chicago Bulls. It was used during the player introductions in the 1990s when the Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, were the dominant force in the NBA.
“Roundball Rock” by John Tesh
This lively instrumental theme is famously associated with the NBA on NBC broadcasts. It was used during the 1990s and is often considered one of the most memorable NBA anthems.
“Jump” by Kris Kross
This song was used by the Atlanta Hawks during the 1990s, becoming synonymous with their energetic and highlight-filled introductions.
“I Got A Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas
The Miami Heat used this song in the early 2010s when they had the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
“Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses
The Los Angeles Clippers have used this rock anthem for years to create an intense and energetic atmosphere in the arena.
“We Ready” by Archie Eversole
The song gained popularity as a pump-up anthem and has been used by various NBA teams to energize fans and players before games.
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes
The distinctive riff from this song has been adopted by several NBA teams as a crowd chant during games, including the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors.
“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC
The Oklahoma City Thunder often use this rock anthem to energize the crowd.
“Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake and Lil Jon
Atlanta Hawks like to play this energetic song during their player introductions.
“Song 2” by Blur
The Toronto Raptors have used this Britpop song to pump up their crowd during games – especially during high-energy moments.
“Power” by Kanye West
The Chicago Bulls blast out Kanye West’s Power during player introductions at the United Centre.
“Lose Yourself” by Eminem
The Detroit Pistons have used local star Eminem’s Lose Yourself to fire up fans (and players) during their home games.
“Go Hard or Go Home” by Wiz Khalifa and Iggy Azalea
The Cleveland Cavaliers used this song during the 2015-2016 season, including during their NBA Finals run with LeBron James.
The choice of NBA anthems usually changes regularly as teams update their introductions or in-game music. The songs are selected to add to the overall entertainment and atmosphere in NBA arenas.
The choices can become part of the team identity for a while. New ones may emerge over time.
The iconic nature of these top anthems usually comes from their association with memorable moments, successful teams, or specific periods in NBA history.
