NBA Schedule 2025-26: National TV Games, Networks and Key Matchups

Get ready, basketball fans! The NBA is gearing up for an action-packed 2025-26 season, and the schedule is looking more exciting than ever. With new TV partners on board, a fiercely competitive Western Conference, and a wide-open Eastern Conference, there’s a lot to look forward to.

The season is kicking off with a bang on October 21st, starting with opening night games on NBC, followed by two nights of games on ESPN, and then a Friday night lineup on Amazon Prime. The national TV schedule, released on August 14th, features marquee players, thrilling matchups, and potential championship contenders.

This season, there will be a total of 247 national TV games, a significant increase from 172 in the previous season. As part of the new TV deal, you can catch Monday games on Peacock, Tuesday on NBC, Wednesday on ESPN, Thursday on Prime Video, and a mix of Prime Video and ESPN on Fridays. The weekend lineup includes games on Prime Video, ABC, and NBC.

Excitingly, NBC is making a grand return to NBA coverage after a two-decade hiatus, and Amazon Prime is diving into NBA games for the first time as part of the league’s new TV deal. ESPN and ABC will continue their coverage, including the Christmas games and the NBA Finals.

Prime Video will offer doubleheaders on Fridays, stream the NBA Cup quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, as well as all six play-in games. NBC and Peacock are set to kick off the season on October 21st, and will also air the four Martin Luther King Jr. Day games. Plus, they will host the NBA All-Star Weekend events in February.

Mark your calendars because the NBA will be playing games on Election Day this season, a change from previous years. Each team will have at least two national TV games, so there will be plenty of opportunities to catch your favorite teams in action. Get ready for a thrilling season of basketball ahead!