Ultimate guide to watching NBA games in 2025-26: Explaining the new-look NBC, ESPN, Amazon broadcast schedule

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• NBA broadcast schedule 2025-26
• NBA games on NBC guide
• NBA games on ESPN guide
• NBA games on Amazon Prime guide
• NBA League Pass and other options

A new era of NBA broadcast coverage is here.

The 2025-26 NBA season marks the first year of a new media rights deal. As part of the new deal, ESPN will retain its spot as the league's top broadcast partner, but the network will be joined by NBC Sports and Amazon Prime, which will also present games for national TV audiences.

With new networks comes a new weekly broadcast schedule and new media talent, some of whom are familiar faces to NBA fans.

Here is everything to know about the NBA's national TV coverage that begins in 2025-26, from the broadcast schedules and broadcast crews to some of the intricacies surrounding game presentation.

NBA national broadcast schedule 2025-26

Here is how the weekly schedule of NBA broadcasts will break down during the 2025-26 regular season.

Throughout the season, nationally televised games will air across ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock and Amazon Prime Video.

Season-long presentations include Monday games on Peacock, Tuesday games on NBC/Peacock, Wednesday games on ESPN and Friday games on Amazon Prime Video.

Beginning at the midseason point, Amazon Prime Video will begin broadcasts on Thursdays and Saturdays. Additionally, ABC and ESPN will begin Saturday and Sunday broadcasts during the season's midway point. At the end of the NFL season, NBC/Peacock will begin airing "Sunday Night Basketball."

NBA games on NBC

NBA on NBC schedule 2025-26

• Days of week: Sunday*, Monday, Tuesday
• Start time: 7 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET
• Live stream: Peacock
• Cost: $7.99/month | $79.99/year

For the first time in 23 years, NBA games will air on NBC. This year, NBC Sports' presentation of NBA games will include games that stream on Peacock, including Monday's Peacock exclusives. Peacock subscriptions begin at $7.99 per month or $79.99 annually and include two higher tiers.

Beginning in February, NBC will air marquee games on Sunday night. The network will also air games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend from Los Angeles.

Here are the NBA on NBC matchups through the end of 2025:

NBA on NBC announcers

The NBA on NBC will feature various broadcast pairings, but play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico will lead the top crew. Tirico will be more present on NBA broadcasts once his other obligations subside. Here are notable pairings and a list of broadcast talent that will be on the screen.

• Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Jamal Crawford (analyst), Zora Stephenson (reporter)
• Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Grant Hill (analyst), Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter)

Here is a list of NBC's announcers who will also see game assignments:

• Mark Followill (play-by-play)
• Terry Gannon (play-by-play)
• Michael Grady (play-by-play)
• Brad Daugherty (analyst)
• Derek Fisher (analyst)
• Robbie Hummel (analyst)
• Brian Scalabrine (color/studio analyst)
• Jordan Cornette (reporter)

Here is NBC's studio talent for NBA presentations:

• Maria Taylor (host)
• Ahmed Farer (host)
• Carmelo Anthony (studio analyst)
• Vince Carter (studio analyst)
• Tracy McGrady (studio analyst)
• Grant Liffman (insider, sideline reporter)
• Michael Jordan (special contributor)

NBA on NBC theme song

The NBA on NBC theme song is "Roundball Rock," a song composed by John Tesh. The song was first introduced in 1990 and used on NBA on NBC broadcasts through 2002. It will be used for NBA on NBC games in the 2025-26 season and beyond.

Will NBC have NBA playoff games?

Yes, NBC will air NBA playoff games in 2026, including the Western Conference Finals. As part of the deal, NBC will air a conference finals series every other year.

How much did NBC pay for NBA rights?

NBCUniversal is paying $2.45 billion annually for NBA rights, according to a CNBC report on the deal. The contract runs through the 2035-36 campaign.

NBA games on ESPN

ESPN NBA schedule 2025-26

• Days of week: Sunday*, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday*
• Start time: 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
• Live stream: ESPN app
• Cost: $11.99/monthly | $119.99/annually

ESPN remains the lone constant in the NBA media space and will be the home of premier broadcasts. Between ESPN and ABC, the networks will be home to the NBA's Christmas Day schedule, the Eastern Conference Finals, and the NBA Finals.

ESPN app memberships begin at $11.99 per month, though there are various bundles and tiers to plans.

Here are the NBA on ESPN and ABC matchups through the end of 2025:

Will Inside the NBA be on ESPN?

Yes, "Inside the NBA" will be featured on ESPN. The presentation and studio will be the same as when it aired on TNT.

"Inside the NBA" pregame shows will begin 30 minutes before tipoff, and the postgame shows will begin immediately after game coverage. For games broadcast on ESPN, the coverage will air entirely on ESPN, but postgame coverage from games on ABC will move to the ESPN app at a certain time.

Inside the NBA cast

• Ernie Johnson (host)
• Charles Barkley (studio analyst)
• Shaquille O'Neal (studio analyst)
• Kenny Smith (studio analyst)

ESPN NBA announcers

As with other networks, NBA on ESPN broadcasts will feature a variety of teams. The top broadcast crew features Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler and Lisa Salters. That quartet will be on the call for the 2026 NBA Finals and other marquee games. 

• Mike Breen (play-by-play), Richard Jefferson (analyst), Tim Legler (analyst), Lisa Salters (reporter)

Here is a list of other announcers for game assignments as well as the rest of ESPN's studio talent:

• Mark Jones (play-by-play)
• Dave Pasch (play-by-play)
• Ryan Ruocco (play-by-play)
• Jay Bilas (analyst)
• Doris Burke (analyst)
• Bob Myers (analyst)
• Malika Andrews (studio host/reporter)
• Katie George (reporter)
• Jorge Sedano (reporter)

Will ESPN have NBA playoff games?

Yes, ESPN will have NBA playoff games, including the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. The network is the exclusive home of the NBA Finals.

How much did ESPN pay for NBA rights?

Disney is paying $2.6 billion annually for ESPN and ABC to have NBA rights, according to multiple reports. The new deal runs through the 2035-36 season.

NBA games on Amazon Prime

Amazon Prime NBA schedule 2025-26

• Days of week: Thursday*, Friday, Saturday*
• Start time: 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Live stream: Amazon Prime Video
• Cost: $14.99/month | $139/annually

For the first time ever, Amazon Prime Video will be a home of NBA broadcasts. The streaming service's package of broadcasts includes NBA Cup matchups and a key doubleheader during the opening week of the season. Friday will be the main day for the NBA on Prime, with midseason matchups beginning on Thursday and Saturday.

There are various price points for Amazon Prime, including discounted options for young adults and those qualified for government assistance.

Here are the NBA on Prime matchups through the end of 2025:

Amazon Prime NBA announcers

Amazon Prime will not feature a marquee broadcast team, but instead have a group of top announcers who will be mixed and matched intermittently.

Here is the group of top broadcasters:

• Play-by-play: Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan
• Analyst: Stan Van Gundy, Brent Barry
• Reporter: Cassidy Hubbarth, Allie Clifton

Here is the group of remaining broadcasters, analysts, and studio talent, a list that includes current 76ers guard Kyle Lowry:

• Michael Grady (play-by-play)
• Eric Collins (play-by-play)
• Dell Curry (analyst)
• Steve Nash (color/studio analyst)
• Candace Parker (color/studio analyst)
• Dwyane Wade (color/studio analyst)
• Kristina Pink (reporter)
• JayDee Dyer (reporter)
• Taylor Rooks (studio host)
• Rudy Gay (studio analyst)
• Blake Griffin (studio analyst)
• Udonis Haslem (studio analyst)
• Kyle Lowry (studio analyst)
• John Wall (studio analyst)
• Swin Cash (contributor)

Amazon Prime NBA studio details

The NBA on Prime will have an innovative 13,000-square-foot studio, making it one of the largest broadcast studios in the United States.

It is a two-story studio that includes a regulation half-court with LED floors. It is located at Amazon MGM Studios in Culver City, Calif., and makes up an "NBA House" designed to enhance the pre- and postgame presentation.

NBA Cup 2025

The NBA on Prime will be the home of the NBA Cup in 2025, with marquee Group Play games airing on the network each Friday.

All seven games from the NBA Cup's knockout rounds will air on Amazon Prime, beginning with the Quarterfinals (Dec. 9-10) and continuing through the Semifinals on Dec. 13 and the Championship on Dec. 16.

How much did Amazon pay for NBA rights?

Amazon is paying $1.8 billion annually for NBA rights, according to a report from Fortune. The contract begins with the 2025-26 NBA season and will run through the 2035-36 season.

NBA League Pass and other options

Fans looking to watch out-of-market games that do not air nationally can tune into the action with a subscription to NBA League Pass.

NBA League Pass options begin at $16.99 monthly or $109.99 annually. There are also premium price points for monthly and annual subscriptions. Blackout restrictions may apply.