Common’s Journey From Bulls Ball Boy to NBA Theme Song Composer

October 16, 2025

Rapper-actor Common, along with collaborators Karriem Riggins and James Poyser, has composed "Victory" as the official theme song for NBA on Prime Video's upcoming basketball coverage. The trio created three versions of the score—orchestral, hip-hop, and rock—recorded with a 70-piece orchestra in Nashville. The theme song will debut on October 24 during Prime Video's opening-night doubleheader featuring the Celtics vs.

Who is affected

NBA fans and Prime Video viewers
The collaborators: Common, Karriem Riggins, and James Poyser
The NBA and Prime Video as broadcasting partners
Young aspiring composers, particularly people of color who might be inspired by this collaboration
Basketball culture and its intersection with music

What action is being taken

Common, Karriem Riggins, and James Poyser are composing and producing "Victory" as the NBA on Prime theme song
The trio is creating three different versions of the score: orchestral, hip-hop, and rock
Grammy-winning engineer Manny Marroquin is mixing the final recordings
Prime Video is preparing to debut the theme during its October 24 opening-night doubleheader
Amazon is launching its first exclusive season of NBA coverage

Why it matters

This represents an unprecedented opportunity for three Black artists to create the official theme for a major sports broadcast
The theme aims to capture the essence of basketball through music, connecting with fans on an emotional level
It establishes a "sonic identity" for NBA on Prime that reflects the authentic culture of basketball
For Common personally, it fulfills a connection to basketball that began in his youth as a Bulls ball boy
The collaborators hope the theme will inspire future generations of composers of color

What's next

The theme song "Victory" will debut on October 24 during Prime Video's opening-night doubleheader
The song will serve as the signature sound of NBA on Prime each week throughout the upcoming season

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint