Atanaria
On August 14, 2025, the NBA officially released the 2025–26 regular-season schedule, marking the beginning of the league’s 80th season. As part of the “NBA Schedule Release presented by Ticketmaster,” the full day‑by‑day and team-by-team schedules—including the broadcast and streaming lineup—are available on NBA.com at the schedule portal. Tickets are available at NBATickets.com.
Season Timeline & Format
- Season kickoff: Tuesday, October 21, 2025, with an opening-night doubleheader featuring Rockets at Thunder (7:30 p.m. ET) and Warriors at Lakers (10 p.m. ET) on NBC and Peacock.
- Regular season conclusion: Sunday, April 12, 2026, with all 30 teams playing, headlined by an ESPN doubleheader (specific matchups TBD).
- Key Season Events:
- NBA Cup Group Play: Oct 31–Nov 28 → decides the final two regular-season games per team.
- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds: Quarterfinals (Dec 9–10), Semifinals (Dec 13), Championship (Dec 16), all streamed on Prime Video.
- Play-In Tournament: April 14–17, 2026 → streamed exclusively on Prime Video.
- Playoffs begin: April 18, 2026; NBA Finals start June 4, 2026.
Broadcast & Streaming Structure
Under new media agreements:
- Mondays: Peacock
- Tuesdays: NBC and Peacock
- Wednesdays: ESPN / ESPN App
- Thursdays: Prime Video
- Fridays: Prime Video and ESPN / ESPN App
- Saturdays: Prime Video (afternoon), ABC / ESPN App (night)
- Sundays: ABC / ESPN App (afternoon) and NBC / Peacock (night)
All national games will also be accessible via streaming: ABC/ESPN through the ESPN App, NBCUniversal via Peacock, and Amazon games on Prime Video.
Highlight Matchups & International Games
Marquee Moments:
- Opening Night: Doubleheader on NBC (Rockets at Thunder; Warriors at Lakers).
- Opening Week on ESPN (Oct 22–23):
- Oct 22: Cavaliers vs. Knicks (7 p.m. ET), followed by the draft top picks’ debut—Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) vs. Dylan Harper (Spurs) at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Oct 23: Thunder vs. Pacers (NBA Finals 2025 rematch) and Warriors vs. Nuggets.
- Christmas Day (Dec 25): Five‑game slate on ABC/ESPN/ESPN App:
- Cavaliers at Knicks (12 p.m. ET)
- Spurs at Thunder (2:30 p.m.)
- Sixers at Celtics (5 p.m.)
- Lakers at Warriors (8 p.m.)
- Nuggets at Suns (10:30 p.m.)
- Europe Games (Jan 2026):
- Berlin: Grizzlies vs. Magic on Jan 15
- London: Grizzlies vs. Magic on Jan 18
- Special Highlights:
- MLK Day: Likely features high-stakes showdowns like Thunder-Cavaliers.
- Thanksgiving Week: Kevin Durant returns to Phoenix (Nov 24); Anthony Davis returns to Los Angeles against Lakers (Nov 28).
- Portland at Boston (Jrue Holiday returns, Damian Lillard’s return): Jan 26.
- LeBron James potentially final hometown game (Lakers at Cavs): Jan 28.
- Rodeo Road Trip (Spurs): Feb 10–Mar 3, with “home” games in Austin’s Moody Center.
Team-Specific Notes:
- Spurs: Season opener Oct 22 on the road vs. Mavs; home opener Oct 26 vs. Nets; Christmas Day vs. Thunder; New Year’s Eve vs. Knicks; January 15 vs. Bucks; Feb–Mar Rodeo Road Trip; season finale at home on April 12.
- Pelicans: Open Oct 22 at Memphis; five of their first six opponents fresh off playoff appearances—including Boston, Denver, Clippers, and defending champs.
- 76ers: Open season on Oct 22 on the road vs. Boston.
- Cavaliers: 20 weekend home games (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays) in the 82-game slate.
Notable Schedule Trends & Insights
- Back-to-back scheduling favors & disadvantages: Denver and Golden State carry grueling rest loads, while Dallas and Milwaukee benefit.
- National TV exposure disparities: Lakers, Thunder, Knicks, Warriors lead with 34 national games; Bulls, Hornets, Jazz, Raptors, Pelicans, Wizards have minimal exposure—raising questions on league visibility choices.
- Intriguing quirks: Clippers’ six bobblehead giveaway nights; Pelicans with the toughest schedule and no 2026 first-round pick; Celtics getting 25 national TV games despite Jayson Tatum’s season-ending injury.
Summary Table of Key Dates & Events
| Event | Date(s) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Season Kickoff | Oct 21, 2025 | Doubleheader on NBC/Peacock |
| Opening Week (ESPN) | Oct 22–23 | Cavaliers–Knicks, Draft Picks’ Debut, Finals Rematch |
| NBA Cup Group Play | Oct 31 – Nov 28 | Final two regular-season games decide via group results |
| NBA Cup Knockouts (Prime Video) | Dec 9–16 | Quarterfinals → Semis → Championship (Vegas) |
| Christmas Day Showcase | Dec 25 | Five games across ABC/ESPN/ESPN App |
| European Games | Jan 15 & 18, 2026 | Grizzlies vs Magic in Berlin and London |
| Holiday Rivalries & Returns | Nov 24, Nov 28, Jan 26–28 | KD returns, Davis returns, Lillard & Holiday returns |
| Spurs Rodeo Trip | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | “Home” games in Austin, TX |
| Regular Season End | April 12, 2026 | ESPN doubleheader final day |
| Play-In Tournament | April 14–17 | Prime Video exclusive coverage |
| Playoffs Start | April 18 | Launch of postseason |
| NBA Finals Start | June 4 (2026) | Begins mid-June |
What to Expect – Our Prognostics
The 2025–26 NBA season looks poised to blend tradition with fresh narratives:
- Rising stars: Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are set to ignite rookie storylines reminiscent of LeBron’s and Wembanyama’s early debuts.
- Contenders: The Thunder, Celtics, Nuggets, and Bucks headline as championship favorites, with the Lakers’ trajectory hinging on LeBron’s health.
- Dark horses: The Pelicans’ brutal early stretch could forge them into a battle-tested playoff threat, while the Cavaliers aim to translate their national spotlight into deep contention.
- League shifts: With NBC and Amazon now carrying major broadcast weight, fans should expect innovative viewing experiences that reshape the league’s media landscape.
If these forecasts hold, the NBA’s 80th season could be one of the most dramatic yet.
