The Roots just said, "Put me in, coach!" The legendary crew from Philly are getting in on the NBA action with their exclusive song created for the 2016 NBA Finals. "Champion" is a mid-tempo, triumphant track featuring winning bars from The Roots frontman Black Thought. "If you a champion / Show me you a champion," he spits with his usual intensity. The single is the soundtrack to a 30-second video/commercial from the NBA and ESPN. In the video, The Roots are on a dark basketball court, and a number of key players show up as holograms with scenes of their winning moments. If you look closely, you'll catch ballers like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Paul Pierce.
Clearly a fan on hip hop, last year the NBA used Kendrick Lamar's "i" as the season's soundtrack. "Champion" serves as the first single released by The Roots since their 2014 concept album …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin. The Roots have been busy serving as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon's resident band but will perform this summer during The Roots Picnic, of course, on June 4th in Philadelphia and at the 2016 Summer Spirit Festival in August in Columbia, MD, to name a few upcoming gigs.
While the 76ers didn't make the Finals, Philly is still representing with this winner of a theme song. You can listen to the full track below and watch the commercial right under it. The NBA Finals will begin Thursday, June 2nd on ABC.
