Quick Read
- The NBA’s 2025-26 season features a historic return to NBC after 23 years.
- Opening night on October 21 will feature the Thunder vs. Rockets and Lakers vs. Warriors.
- Christmas Day includes five marquee matchups, headlined by LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant.
- MLK Day games will honor Dr. King’s legacy with a full slate of matchups on January 19, 2026.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially unveiled the highly anticipated schedule for the 2025-26 season, marking a historic return to NBC as a broadcast partner after more than two decades. With an exciting lineup of games on opening night, Christmas Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, basketball fans are gearing up for what promises to be an unforgettable season. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the key highlights announced so far.
Historic Return to NBC and Opening Night Matchups
The NBA’s 80th season will kick off on October 21, 2025, with a doubleheader on NBC, a network that hasn’t aired NBA games since 2002. The reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will host the Houston Rockets in the first game of the night. This event will feature the Thunder’s championship banner ceremony and ring presentation, marking their first-ever NBA title. The game will also see Kevin Durant’s return to Oklahoma City with his new team, the Rockets.
Later that evening, NBC will broadcast a marquee matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. This game will renew the legendary rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who will face off for the 57th time in their storied careers. Notably, LeBron James will make history as the first player to compete in 23 NBA seasons, while Luka Dončić will debut as a Laker in his first season opener with the team.
According to The New York Times, this marks a significant moment for NBC, which will also air Sunday Night Basketball starting in February 2026 and share coverage of the NBA All-Star Game and one conference final annually under the league’s new 11-year, $75 billion media rights deal.
Christmas Day: A Star-Studded Slate
The NBA has long made Christmas Day a marquee event, and this season is no exception. Fans will be treated to five high-profile matchups featuring some of the league’s biggest stars. The action begins at Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks will host the Cleveland Cavaliers. This will be the Cavaliers’ first Christmas Day appearance since 2017.
In Oklahoma City, the Thunder will play on Christmas for the first time since 2018, hosting the San Antonio Spurs and their rising star, Victor Wembanyama. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors will face the Dallas Mavericks, where Klay Thompson will return to the Bay Area for the first time as a Maverick after 13 seasons with the Warriors.
Primetime will feature a clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, pitting LeBron James against Kevin Durant in what could be one of James’ final Christmas Day games. The nightcap will see the Denver Nuggets take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, continuing a burgeoning rivalry between Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić.
As highlighted by NBA.com, the Christmas Day tradition underscores the league’s emphasis on showcasing its most marketable teams and players on a global stage.
MLK Day: A Celebration of Legacy
Martin Luther King Jr. Day remains a cornerstone of the NBA’s regular season, honoring Dr. King’s legacy with a full slate of games. On January 19, 619, NBC and its streaming platform Peacock will broadcast four matchups. The day begins with an Eastern Conference showdown between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks on Peacock. NBC’s tripleheader will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Dallas Mavericks playing the New York Knicks, and the Boston Celtics taking on the Detroit Pistons in the nightcap.
This year’s MLK Day games will also include international matchups in Europe, as the Memphis Grizzlies face the Orlando Magic in London and Berlin. As Fox Sports notes, the NBA has been committed to expanding its global footprint, and these games further that mission.
Opening Week and Peacock Exclusives
Opening Week promises a thrilling start to the season, with ESPN airing doubleheaders on October 22 and 23. The Cleveland Cavaliers will face the New York Knicks, while the Dallas Mavericks will take on the San Antonio Spurs in a battle between the top two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper.
On October 23, the defending champion Thunder will visit the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals, followed by a clash between the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. Additionally, Peacock will host exclusive games starting October 27, featuring matchups like the Detroit Pistons against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Denver Nuggets.
These games highlight the NBA’s commitment to leveraging multiple platforms to reach a broader audience, as detailed by CBS Sports.
The 2025-26 NBA season is shaping up to be a spectacle of athleticism, competition, and entertainment, with historic milestones and unforgettable matchups awaiting fans worldwide.