Since its debut in the ‘90s, NBA Jam has stood as a legendary basketball video game. Despite his pivotal role as the game’s announcer, Tim Kitzrow revealed he earned merely “like $800-and-change” for recording his unforgettable lines.
Revisiting his days as a sports gaming voice actor, Kitzrow recounted his experiences to The Escapist. Known for his voice work on NFL Blitz, MLB Slugfest, and themed pinball games, it’s his lively contribution to NBA Jam that resonates with fans decades later.
Many of his iconic phrases still echo in the memories of ‘90s arcade enthusiasts, with “boomshakalaka” being the standout. Kitzrow reflects on this phrase as a spontaneous creation rather than a deliberate catchphrase, describing it as “a gift from the gods”.
The Birth of “Boomshakalaka”
The origin of “boomshakalaka” is equally fascinating. During a recording session, studio colleague John Carlton, inspired by Sly & The Family Stone’s song “I Want to Take You Higher”, suggested Kitzrow try the phrase. Initially unfamiliar, Kitzrow hesitated, questioning its relevance to basketball. Yet, he embraced it, delivering a line that would become legendary.
Decades later, the expression still fuels excitement among basketball fans. In Kitzrow’s eyes, NBA Jam was just another gig, like his previous pinball projects, each earning him “a few hundred bucks at best”. Without an agent, he simply charged $50 an hour, unaware of the game’s monumental success.
“It was $50 an hour,” Kitzrow recounted. “Same as the pinball. I’d go in, do a couple of sessions – maybe 15 hours total – and that was it. I wasn’t smart enough, savvy enough to know the business, to go, ‘Gee, these games make a lot of money, maybe I should make more than $50 an hour.’”
Reflections on NBA Jam’s Impact
Only after NBA Jam’s release, which amassed immense popularity and income, did Kitzrow realize he could have asked for more. **“When the game came out and I found out it made a billion dollars, that’s when I realised I’d made like 800-and-change, maybe something like that,” he said with a laugh.**
NBA Jam’s legacy continued with various re-releases over the years, handled by Acclaim Entertainment and EA, including successful reboots in 2003 and 2010.
Kitzrow reprised his role in several sequels, delivering high-energy commentary that fans cherish. His iconic lines resurfaced in unexpected places, such as a sports-themed Easter Egg in Bethesda Softworks’ Rage 2. Fans of football fantasy will hear him again in Mutant Football League 2, set for a full release on December 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S.