NBA Jam Actor Says He Was Paid ‘Like $800’ to Voice the Game’s Beloved Announcer

NBA Jam has remained 1 of the astir iconic hoops video games since its merchandise successful the ‘90s, but Tim Kitzrow, the histrion down its announcer, says helium lone made “like $800-and-change” erstwhile signaling his lines.

The dependable down “boomshakalaka” opened up astir his past arsenic a sports gaming dependable histrion during a caller speech with The Escapist. Kitzrow’s vocation includes voicework for NFL Blitz, MLB Slugfest, and adjacent themed pinball machines, but it’s his enactment connected the over-the-top NBA video crippled that galore judge has stood the trial of time.

While galore lines from his play-by-plays apt inactive ringing successful the minds of ‘90s gamers who dropped coins into the archetypal arcade experience, it’s “boomshakalaka” that is remembered by astir today. Despite its staying power, Kitzrow looks backmost astatine the drawstring of syllables arsenic much of “a acquisition from the gods” than a cautiously considered quote.

“A chap successful the studio, John Carlton, was listening to Sly & The Family Stone,” helium explained. “The opus I Want to Take You Higher. The chorus is ‘boom shaka-laka-laka, roar shaka-laka-laka’.”

Kitzrow continued: “He goes, ‘Hey Tim, accidental boomshakalaka’. Now, maine being a hoops feline – I watched each crippled connected TV with Marv Albert – I’d ne'er heard anyone accidental ‘boomshakalaka’. I’m conscionable trying to get the reference, like, ‘What the hellhole are you talking about? This is not a hoops term.’ I said, ‘What is this?’ He goes, ‘Just accidental boomshakalaka… similar that.’”

Now, 32 years later, boomshakalaka is inactive the benignant of solemnisation hoops fans emotion to quote. At the time, though, Kitzrow’s enactment connected NBA Jam seemed similar immoderate different dependable acting gig. Without an cause and his pinball enactment usually netting “a fewer 100 bucks astatine best,” helium says his enactment connected Midway’s sports video crippled seemed similar immoderate different job.

“It was $50 an hour,” Kitzrow said. “Same arsenic the pinball. I’d spell in, bash a mates of sessions – possibly 15 hours full – and that was it. I wasn’t astute enough, savvy capable to cognize the business, to go, ‘Gee, these games marque a batch of money, possibly I should marque much than $50 an hour.’”

It wasn’t until aft NBA Jam launched to tremendous occurrence that Kitzrow realized helium whitethorn person been denied an casual layup.

“When the crippled came retired and I recovered retired it made a cardinal dollars, that’s erstwhile I realised I’d made similar 800-and-change, possibly thing similar that,” helium said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Well, I’m astir apt being underpaid. I mightiness privation to rise my rate.’”

NBA Jam went connected to person galore re-releases connected assorted platforms. The bid yet saw releases from Acclaim Entertainment and EA, too, including 2003 and 2010 reboots, successful summation to its Midway run.

Kitzrow returned to supply his enactment arsenic 1 of the astir excited announcers successful games successful galore of the offshoots arsenic they arrived done the years. He besides managed to bring backmost immoderate of his astir iconic lines for a sports-themed Easter Egg successful Bethesda Softworks’ Rage 2. Next, shot phantasy fans tin expect to perceive him successful Mutant Football League 2, which leaves aboriginal entree with a afloat motorboat for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S December 10.

Michael Cripe is simply a freelance writer with IGN. He's champion known for his enactment astatine sites similar The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be definite to springiness him a travel connected Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).