The Voice of the Past: Jim Fagan's AI Revival in NBA Coverage

The NBA is coming back to NBC in 2025. It's a big deal. NBC is pulling out all the stops. They are using AI to bring back the voice of Jim Fagan. He was a famous narrator for NBC's NBA coverage from 1990 to 2002. He died in 2017. His family is on board with this project. They are excited to see his legacy continue. Jim Fagan's voice was iconic. It brought excitement to big NBA games. Fans remember his voice. It reminds them of a special time in basketball history. Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant were some of the stars he introduced. His voice was a big part of NBC's NBA coverage. It helped make those moments memorable. NBC has used AI before. They recreated Al Michaels' voice for the Olympics. Now, they are doing the same for Jim Fagan. His AI voice will be used in title sequences and promos. It will supplement other voiceover work. This is not the first time NBC has used AI for sports coverage. Jim Fagan grew up in a coal mining town. He had a passion for acting. He became a prominent voiceover artist. His daughters are grateful for this project. They know their father would be proud. It's a way to honor his legacy. It's also a way to introduce his voice to a new generation of fans. NBC has a big media-rights deal with the NBA. They will broadcast 100 regular-season games. They will also cover the NBA All-Star Game and playoff games. WNBA games will be part of the package. NBC Sports will launch "Sunday Night Basketball" in 2026. They have big plans for their NBA coverage. They are bringing back familiar elements. They are also introducing new features. It will be interesting to see how it all comes together.