One of the biggest dilemmas in the entertainment world —including video games— is whether payment for work should be a one-time fee or a royalties-based arrangement that pays off in the future. It’s a tough decision, especially for new franchises, since there’s no way of knowing whether they’ll become a hit. History is filled with cases that today would lead to financial regret. One such example is Tim Kitzrow, the iconic voice of NBA Jam, who revealed he only received a few hundred dollars for his work.
One of the most successful games of its era
Tim Kitzrow, the announcer of NBA Jam, only earned $800 for his work.
Even though it hasn’t been a relevant presence in gaming for years, NBA Jam remains one of the most successful franchises of all time, having generated more than $1 billion.
Its 1993 arcade release —and subsequent versions on home systems— became a phenomenon throughout the ’90s. The exaggerated gameplay, full of over-the-top shots and dunks, was enriched by Tim Kitzrow’s voice.
Anyone who played it remembers iconic lines like “Boomshakalaka!” and his energetic commentary that became symbolic for the series. One might assume that everyone involved made a fortune from the project, but that wasn’t the case. In an interview with The Escapist (via VGC), Kitzrow revealed he only made $800 for his work on the game.
He explained:
“It was $50 an hour. Same as with pinball machines. I’d go in, do a couple of sessions —maybe 15 hours in total— and that was it. I wasn’t smart enough or savvy enough to understand the business, to realize these games were making a lot of money. Maybe I should’ve earned more than 50 bucks an hour.”
NBA Jam: a ’90s phenomenon
The announcer’s lack of industry knowledge cost him dearly.
According to Kitzrow, the harsh reality hit when he learned NBA Jam had become a massive success generating over $1 billion:
“When the game came out and I found out it had made a billion dollars, that’s when I realized I’d only made like 800-something, maybe around there. I thought they probably underpaid me and I should’ve raised my rate.”
Looking back at the era when NBA Jam was released, it’s clear that Kitzrow’s lack of industry awareness cost him financially. In the early ’90s, the NBA had become an incredibly lucrative business thanks to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ success. U.S. basketball became a global phenomenon, and everything associated with it sold like hotcakes.
Even though there were no guarantees about the future, the fact that NBA Jam had an official NBA license and featured the biggest stars of the time was already a strong sign that the game would do extremely well.
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