NBA JAM - IS IT THE SHOES?

A sound from the 😂 Memes category

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Also as: Discord-ready (≤5 s) · iPhone ringtone (.m4r) · Android ringtone (MP3) · how to add it to Discord · how to set it as a ringtone

📖 What is the “NBA JAM - IS IT THE SHOES?” sound?

This clip is a short two-second voice bark pulled from NBA Jam's arcade basketball commentary. A gravelly, excited announcer voice asks "Is it the shoes?" after a player pulls off an impressive dunk or shot streak in-game. The line is a direct nod to Spike Lee's Mars Blackmon character, who used the same question as a catchphrase in old Nike Air Jordan commercials and in his film She's Gotta Have It. In NBA Jam, the phrase became one of several memorable announcer quips, alongside lines like "He's on fire!" and "Boom shakalaka," all reportedly written by the game's sound composer Jon Hey and delivered by voice actor Tim Kitzrow. Over time, these barks have been pulled out of the game and circulated individually as soundboard clips and meme audio, valued for their punchy, exaggerated sports-commentary energy. The phrase itself works as a reaction to any moment of surprising, almost unbelievable skill or success, echoing the in-game joke that a player's sudden talent might be explained by something external, like their footwear, rather than actual ability. Its tone is comedic and self-aware, fitting with the exaggerated, arcade-style presentation of the original game. As a meme sound, it's recognizable mostly to people familiar with retro sports games or basketball internet culture, and it retains that mix of genuine excitement and tongue-in-cheek mockery from its source.

🧭 Where it comes from

Origin: NBA Jam video game commentary line, written by Jon Hey and voiced by announcer Tim Kitzrow — documented

The line references Spike Lee's Mars Blackmon catchphrase from Nike's Air Jordan commercials and his 1986 film She's Gotta Have It. The NBA Jam commentary, including this line, was written by sound composer Jon Hey and voiced by Tim Kitzrow. Snippets do not give a specific year for the game's release, so none is stated here.

🎬 How to use it in your edits

Drop this in right after someone lands an improbable trick shot, clutch play, or lucky win in a gaming clip to mock-credit their equipment instead of their skill. It also works well overlaid on a reaction video where someone suddenly performs way above their usual level, implying there must be a hidden explanation.

Download the file above, then import it into CapCut, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve — or straight into TikTok / Instagram. The sound is free for your videos.

💬 Questions about this sound

Where does the "Is it the shoes?" line come from?

It's a basketball video game announcer line from NBA Jam, referencing Spike Lee's Mars Blackmon character from Nike's Air Jordan commercials and his film She's Gotta Have It.

Who voices the line in NBA Jam?

According to available sources, the NBA Jam announcer voice, including this line, was performed by Tim Kitzrow, with the commentary dialogue written by sound composer Jon Hey.

What does the phrase mean when used as a meme?

It's used to jokingly suggest that someone's surprising success or skill must be due to an external factor, like their shoes, rather than genuine talent.