{"id":14726,"date":"2025-11-26T22:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=14726"},"modified":"2025-11-26T22:06:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T14:06:42","slug":"nba-jam-actor-says-he-was-paid-like-800-to-voice-the-games-beloved-announcer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=14726","title":{"rendered":"NBA Jam Actor Says He Was Paid \u2018Like $800\u2019 to Voice the Game\u2019s Beloved Announcer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NBA Jam<\/u> has remained one of the most iconic basketball video games since its release in the \u201890s, but Tim Kitzrow, the actor behind its announcer, says he only made \u201clike $800-and-change\u201d when recording his lines.<\/p>\n

The voice behind \u201cboomshakalaka\u201d opened up about his history as a sports gaming voice actor during a recent conversation with The Escapist<\/u>. Kitzrow\u2019s career includes voicework for NFL Blitz, MLB Slugfest, and even themed pinball machines, but it\u2019s his work on the over-the-top NBA video game that many believe has stood the test of time.<\/p>\n

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While many lines from his play-by-plays likely still ring in the minds of \u201890s gamers who dropped coins into the original arcade experience, it\u2019s \u201cboomshakalaka\u201d that is remembered by most today. Despite its staying power, Kitzrow looks back at the string of syllables as more of \u201ca gift from the gods\u201d than a carefully considered quote.<\/p>\n

\u201cA fellow in the studio, John Carlton, was listening to Sly & The Family Stone,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe song I Want to Take You Higher. The chorus is \u2018boom shaka-laka-laka, boom shaka-laka-laka\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kitzrow continued: \u201cHe goes, \u2018Hey Tim, say boomshakalaka\u2019. Now, me being a basketball guy \u2013 I watched every game on TV with Marv Albert \u2013 I\u2019d never heard anyone say \u2018boomshakalaka\u2019. I\u2019m just trying to get the reference, like, \u2018What the hell are you talking about? This is not a basketball term.\u2019 I said, \u2018What is this?\u2019 He goes, \u2018Just say boomshakalaka\u2026 like that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

I thought, \u2018Well, I\u2019m probably being underpaid. I might want to raise my rate.\u2019<\/div>\n

Now, 32 years later, boomshakalaka is still the kind of celebration basketball fans love to quote. At the time, though, Kitzrow\u2019s work on NBA Jam seemed like any other voice acting gig. Without an agent and his pinball work usually netting \u201ca few hundred bucks at best,\u201d he says his work on Midway\u2019s sports video game seemed like any other job.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was $50 an hour,\u201d Kitzrow said. \u201cSame as the pinball. I\u2019d go in, do a couple of sessions \u2013 maybe 15 hours total \u2013 and that was it. I wasn\u2019t smart enough, savvy enough to know the business, to go, \u2018Gee, these games make a lot of money, maybe I should make more than $50 an hour.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until after NBA Jam launched to tremendous success that Kitzrow realized he may have been denied an easy layup.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the game came out and I found out it made a billion dollars, that\u2019s when I realised I\u2019d made like 800-and-change, maybe something like that,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cI thought, \u2018Well, I\u2019m probably being underpaid. I might want to raise my rate.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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NBA Jam went on to receive numerous re-releases on various platforms. The series eventually saw releases from Acclaim Entertainment and EA, too, including 2003 and 2010 reboots, in addition to its Midway run.<\/p>\n

Kitzrow returned to provide his work as one of the most excited announcers in games in many of the offshoots as they arrived through the years. He also managed to bring back some of his most iconic lines for a sports-themed Easter Egg in Bethesda Softworks\u2019 Rage 2<\/u>. Next, football fantasy fans can expect to hear him in Mutant Football League 2<\/u>, which leaves early access with a full launch for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S December 10.<\/p>\n

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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