by Emma Roth
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images
The AI-generated voice of Fagan, who died in 2017, will appear across select NBA promos, openers, and title sequences.
NBC’s upcoming NBA coverage will include the AI-generated voice of Jim Fagan, a longtime sports narrator who died in 2017. In an announcement on Tuesday, NBC said the AI-generated voice of Fagan will appear across select title sequences, show opens, and promos when the network resumes airing NBA games in October.
Fagan’s voice appeared in NBC’s NBA coverage from 1990 to 2002, where he became known for his “NBA on NBC” promos. He also narrated promos and openers for the league’s biggest stars, like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
With permission from Fagan’s family, NBC will now use AI to re-create his voice. NBC has already revealed its first promo using Fagan’s AI-generated voice.