The best way to watch NBA video games in 2025-26: Everyfactor you might want to know

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The 2025-26 NBA season brings new broadcast companions and new methods to observe video games all season lengthy. 

Below is a information to be sure you don’t miss any of the must-see matchups from Opening Night by means of the NBA Finals.

Overview

The 2025-26 NBA season marks the primary of the 11-year media agreements with Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video).

• ABC/ESPN: Entering its twenty fourth straight season of NBA protection, ABC and ESPN will broadcast 80 regular-season video games, together with the NBA on Christmas Day. In the playoffs, ESPN/ABC will broadcast roughly 18 video games within the first two rounds, in addition to one convention finals in 10 of the 11 years, whereas additionally remaining the unique house of the NBA Finals.
• NBC/Peacock: The NBA returns to NBC for the primary time since 2002, starting with the Opening Night doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21. NBC/Peacock will broadcast 100 regular-season video games, roughly 28 video games within the first two rounds of the playoffs and one of many convention finals in six of the 11 years, whereas additionally turning into the brand new house of NBA All-Star weekend.
• Prime Video: A model new accomplice for the NBA, Prime will broadcast 66 regular-season video games, together with the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup earlier than the Championship Game of the third-annual in-season competitors on Dec. 16. Prime would be the unique house for all six video games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and can carry roughly one-third of playoff video games within the first two rounds, in addition to one of many convention finals in six of the 11 years.
• NBA League Pass: Broadcasting all video games that aren’t accessible on a nationwide platform or in a consumer’s native market, NBA League Pass will proceed to be accessible through conventional cable and satellite tv for pc distributors. It can also be accessible for buy and viewing through the NBA App and NBA.com, whereas Amazon will probably be its major third-party digital distributor.

Daily schedule

So when is every broadcaster carrying video games this season? We’re glad you requested …

Season-long nationwide video games:

• * Sunday: ESPN/ABC (afternoon video games) & NBC/Peacock (night time video games)
• Monday: Peacock
• Tuesday: NBC/Peacock
• Wednesday: ESPN
• * Thursday: Amazon Prime
• Friday: Amazon Prime & ESPN*
• * Saturday: Amazon Prime (afternoon video games) & ESPN/ABC (night time video games).

* = beginning midseason

Let’s dive deeper into every of the three broadcast companions for extra on their recreation schedules and displays, from studio present hosts and analysts to who will name the motion on play-by-play and in-game evaluation.

NBC & Peacock

NBC Sports and Peacock will broadcast the Opening Night matchups and MLK Day video games in 2025-26.

Cue the enduring “Roundball Rock” theme music with the return of the NBA on NBC, tipping off with an Opening Night doubleheader on Oct. 21, that includes the defending champion Thunder internet hosting the Rockets, adopted by the Warriors visiting the Lakers in L.A. 

• Regular recreation nights: Monday, Tuesday and Sunday (starting Feb. 1)
• Marquee video games: Opening Night doubleheader, MLK Day video games
• Marquee occasion: NBA All-Star (Rising Stars, All-Star Saturday Night, All-Star Game)
• Full schedule: Every NBA recreation on NBC & Peacock in 2025-26

Peacock NBA Monday: Starting Oct. 27, Peacock will stream as much as three video games nationwide on Monday nights all through the common season. A 30-minute studio program will lead into recreation protection.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday: Beginning Oct. 28, Tuesday nights will characteristic doubleheaders on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET recreation will probably be offered to NBC stations within the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT recreation to NBC stations within the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both video games will stream stay nationwide on Peacock with a 30-minute studio program main into protection on Peacock.

Sunday Night Basketball: Launching Feb. 1, Sundays will characteristic primetime hoops on NBC and Peacock by means of April 5 – apart from Feb. 8 and 15 – and embrace three doubleheaders. A one-hour, on-site studio program will lead into recreation protection every week on NBC and Peacock.

NBC and Peacock’s protection will characteristic some new and a few acquainted voices on recreation calls and the studio reveals breaking down the entire motion. 

• Play-by-play announcers: Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Michael Grady, Terry Gannon, Mark Followill
• Game analysts: Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Robbie Hummel, Austin Rivers
• Studio present hosts & analysts: Maria Taylor and Ahmed Fareed (hosts), Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Grant Liffmann (entrance workplace insider)
• Sideline reporters: Jordan Cornette, Ashley ShahAhmadi, Zora Stephenson
• Assignments: See all broadcaster assignments for the season’s first two weeks

Peacock just isn’t solely a brand new vacation spot for video games all through the season, however its recreation displays will characteristic revolutionary enhancements to deliver followers nearer to the sport.

• Performance View: An on-screen overlay that followers can toggle on and off, that includes real-time stats corresponding to participant capturing streaks and sure scoring zones.
• ScoreCard: An actual-time interactive recreation described as “bingo meets fantasy sports,” permitting followers to decide on a recreation card based mostly on a group or theme, after which earn factors relying on what occurs in the course of the recreation.
• Courtside Live: Debuting within the second half of the season, get an immersive, courtside view of gameday environment, that includes a curated feed that features participant arrivals, pregame warmups and reactions from celebrities within the entrance row.
• “On the Bench:” Dedicates one analyst to every group and positions that analyst courtside with their group, bringing followers nearer to the motion.

ABC & ESPN

ABC will as soon as once more be house for the NBA Finals.

NBA protection on ESPN and ABC returns with a ‘Bang!’ (a la Mike Breen) for a twenty fourth straight season, starting with a pair of opening week doubleheaders.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Cavs go to the Knicks, adopted by the NBA debut of No. 1 decide Cooper Flagg when the Mavs host the Spurs. On Thursday, Oct. 23, the Pacers host the Thunder in a Finals rematch, adopted by the Nuggets visiting Golden State.

• Regular recreation nights: Wednesday & Friday* (ESPN), Saturday* & Sunday* (ESPN & ABC)
• Marquee video games: NBA on Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader
• Marquee occasion: Home of the NBA Finals
• New platform: All video games will probably be accessible on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service
• Full schedule: Every NBA recreation on ABC & ESPN in 2025-26

* = Beginning midseason

NBA on ESPN doubleheaders: The NBA on Wednesday nights have been a staple on ESPN for years and can proceed with doubleheaders all through the common season. At midseason, ESPN will increase its protection with doubleheaders on Fridays.

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC: Entering its eleventh season, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC continues to current the premier nationwide recreation of the week, treating followers to essentially the most charming and highest-profile matchups. It begins on Jan. 24 with a Rivals Week tripleheader that includes Knicks-Sixers, Timberwolves-Warriors and Lakers-Mavericks, and runs each Saturday by means of March 14 (besides Feb. 14 throughout NBA All-Star).

NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC: ABC is the vacation spot for marquee matchups each Sunday afternoon from Feb. 8 by means of March 14 (apart from Feb. 15 throughout NBA All-Star). 

Breen is again because the lead play-by-play voice for ESPN and ABC, with Tim Legler becoming a member of Breen and Richard Jefferson on the community’s lead broadcast crew. 

• Play-by-play announers: Mike Breen, Dave Pasch, Ryan Ruocco and Mark Jones
• Game analysts: Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Doris Burke, Jay Bilas
• Sideline reporters: Lisa Salters, Katie George, Jorge Sedano and extra to be named
• Studio present hosts & analysts: Malika Andrews (host), Michael Malone, Kendrick Perkins and extra to be named

The greatest change to ABC/ESPN’s protection this season is the addition of “Inside the NBA” – the 21-time Emmy Award-winning studio present recognized for its entertaining type and unfiltered commentary – to function the pregame, halftime and postgame present for high-profile NBA occasions on ESPN and ABC all through the common season, playoffs and the NBA Finals.

Hosted by Ernie Johnson alongside analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, “Inside the NBA” will make its ESPN debut in the course of the networks’ opening week doubleheaders, whereas additionally being a part of the NBA on Christmas Day in addition to the unique, nationwide NBA recreation of the week franchises. The full checklist is under:

• Opening Week doubleheaders: Wed, Oct. 22 and Thur, Oct. 23
• Early-season doubleheaders: Wed, Oct. 29 and Wed, Nov. 12 
• NBA on Christmas Day: Thur, Dec. 25
• Every NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC: Jan. 24 & 31, Feb. 7, 21 & 28, March 7 & 14
• Three NBA Sunday Showcase on ABC: Feb. 22, March 1 & 8

Prime Video

NBA on Prime will broadcast the NBA Cup Knockout & Championship rounds in addition to the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament.

The latest house for NBA hoops, Prime Video opens its inaugural season on the World’s Most Famous Arena on Oct. 24 when the Knicks host the Celtics within the opening recreation of a doubleheader, adopted by the Timberwolves visiting the Lakers in Los Angeles.

• • Regular recreation nights: Friday, with Thursday* & Saturday* coming in January
  • Marquee video games: NBA Cup Knockouts & Championship, Black Friday recreation, Global Games in Europe (Jan. 15 in Berlin, Jan. 18 in London)
  • Marquee occasions: Exclusive house of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
  • Full Schedule: Every NBA recreation on Prime Video in 2025-26

* = Beginning midseason

Prime Video will stream 66 regular-season video games this season, together with 10 throughout Group Play of the Emirates NBA Cup – with doubleheaders on 5 consecutive Fridays starting on Halloween by means of Nov. 28.

Once Group Play is full with eight groups advancing to the Knockout Rounds, protection will probably be unique to Prime Video that includes the only elimination quarterfinals (Dec. 10) and semifinals (Dec. 13), culminating within the NBA Cup Championship Game on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.

Prime Video just isn’t solely house to the conclusion of the Emirates NBA Cup, it’s also the unique house of the start of the NBA postseason, with all six video games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament – which determines the No. 7 and No. 8 playoff seeds in each conferences – broadcast on Prime from April 14-17.

Before Prime Video’s debut broadcast on Friday, they provided an early glimpse of the brand-new studio that will probably be house to their pregame, between recreation and postgame protection. Which voices will emit from that studio and inside arenas across the league?

• Play-by-play announcers: Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Michael Grady, Eric Collins
• Game analysts: Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Candace Parker, Stan Van Gundy, Brent Barry, Dell Curry, Jim Jackson
• Sideline reporters: Cassidy Hubbarth, Allie Clifton, Kristina Pink, JayDee Dyer 
• Studio present host & analysts: Taylor Rooks (host), Swin Cash (entrance workplace insider), Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Udonis Haslem, John Wall, Rudy Gay and energetic Sixers guard Kyle Lowry (choose appearances). Nash, Wade and Parker will break up between studio and in-game analysts

A brand new broadcast platform additionally permits for brand new options and enhancements for the viewing expertise. Here are a couple of that Prime Video has in retailer for its inaugural season.

• Customizable Multiview: For followers that subscribe to Prime Video and NBA League Pass, they’ll be capable to watch as much as 4 video games without delay.
• Numbers Game: Real-time participant and group stats will probably be built-in into every Prime Video stream.
• Rapid Recap: Late to a recreation? Don’t fear. Prime will provide a curated spotlight reel to deliver followers in control in two minutes or much less earlier than transitioning to the stay stream.