[Basketball Cheer Songs] A curated selection of tournament theme songs and energizing anthems!
Basketball’s popularity is on the rise in Japan, thanks to the national team’s strong performances at the Olympics and the excitement surrounding the professional B.League.
Japanese players shining in the NBA are also drawing a lot of attention.
Beyond cheering through the TV, many people are passionately involved in school clubs or heading to arenas to enjoy games in person.
In this article, we’ve gathered basketball-related songs: tracks you can use to cheer during games, theme songs from the domestic league and international tournaments, and opening themes from anime that feature basketball.
They’re all perfect as pump-up BGM for practice, so whether you’re a player or a fan, be sure to check them out!
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[Basketball Cheering Songs] Carefully Selected Tournament Theme Songs and Power-Packed Fight Songs! (91–100)
RIMFIREGRANRODEO
This song, which served as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Kuroko’s Basketball, is closely tied to the series in its content.
The basketball theme is also reflected in the title: “RIMFIRE” was inspired by the common term “rim” for a basketball hoop, and the six shots in a revolver are linked to the six players including the bench member in basketball.
Its powerful vocals and uplifting lyrics are sure to inspire the players!
SiriusThe Alan Parsons Project
Famous as the Chicago Bulls’ entrance music—during the era when Michael Jordan played for them—is “Sirius” by the British rock band The Alan Parsons Project.
Many basketball fans probably think of Bulls games the moment they hear this track.
It’s the opening number of their 1982 album Eye in the Sky, a Grammy-winning release, and that slowly fading-in synth bass steadily builds your excitement.
stepsGReeeeN
It was released in 2009 as GReeeeN’s ninth single.
Chosen as the 2009 campaign song for U-Can, it reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
A short drama themed around the song, titled “Ayumi — Now, Toward the Self I Want to Be,” was also produced.
The song conveys the importance of making steady progress, one step at a time.
DOWNTOWNMacklemore & Ryan Lewis
This song was apparently written as an homage to the 1970s and ’80s.
It’s a hip-hop track that also shows influences from rock.
It’s often used as the ending theme for the NBA, America’s professional basketball league.
It’s a song that makes you feel like enjoying time with your crew while pushing forward and constantly taking on new challenges!
Can DoGRANRODEO
This song was used as the theme for the TV anime Kuroko’s Basketball.
It features a refreshing yet powerful melody and lyrics that encourage moving forward by overcoming weakness.
It gives you the courage to take on the challenges and opponents right in front of you.
My friendZARD
I’m sure many of you feel a wave of nostalgia from the very first notes of this song.
It’s a classic by ZARD, the music unit that helped lead the Japanese music scene of the ’90s.
Released in 1996 as their 17th single, its lyrics squeeze your heart as they evoke memories of a dear friend you can no longer see.
It was used as the ending theme for the anime Slam Dunk, which is about high school basketball.
Incidentally, this was ZARD’s first anime tie-in song.
Top Of The WorldZeebra
You can’t help but get drawn into the heavy, weighty rhythm and flow.
It’s a track by Zeebra, a leading figure in Japan’s hip-hop scene, released in 2006.
It was produced as the image song for the Basketball World Championship held that same year.
Although there were no initial plans to release it, strong requests from fans led to a sudden online distribution.
It later became a popular track included on the album “World Of Music.” The fiery message—aim for the top!—really stirs the heart.