NBA Unveils 2025-26 Schedule: Every Team Gets Spotlight in Record-Breaking National TV Slate
Headline:
247 Nationally Televised Games, NBA Cup Drama, Finals Rematches, and More: The 2025-26 Season Is Built for Fans
Summary:
The NBA has officially released its 2025-26 regular season schedule, and it’s one for the history books. Thanks to a massive $76 billion TV deal, every NBA team will appear on national television at least twice. With 247 nationally televised games across major platforms like ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, fans can expect unprecedented access and excitement. From Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas to NBA Cup matchups and Election Day games, here’s everything you need to know.
A New Era of NBA Coverage Begins
On Thursday, the NBA dropped its full 2025-26 schedule — and this season comes with big-time visibility for every team.
With the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal kicking in, national coverage is expanding like never before. Platforms like ABC-ESPN, NBC-Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video will now broadcast a combined 247 games, a massive leap from the 172 televised last season.
That surge means one major win for fans: every single team is getting at least two national TV games.
📅 Key Dates You Don’t Want to Miss
🗳️ Election Day (Nov. 4)
For the first time in four years, the NBA will play games on Election Day. The six-game slate includes a marquee matchup between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the LA Clippers.
Although the league has traditionally paused on Election Day during major election years, they’ll continue that approach in 2026 and 2028, aligning with midterms and presidential elections.
🏆 NCAA Championship Night (April 6)
The NBA will continue its recent trend of playing during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Teams hosting that night include:
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Atlanta (hosting the Knicks – Peacock exclusive)
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Orlando
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Memphis
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San Antonio
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Denver
Last year’s two-game test run is now becoming standard.
⛳ Final Day of the Regular Season (April 12)
All 30 teams will be in action, but with a twist — later start times. Instead of early afternoon tip-offs, games will begin at 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. ET.
Why? To avoid overlap with The Masters' final round, which typically wraps around 7 p.m. ET.
Other scheduling notes:
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All teams also play on Friday, April 10.
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No games on April 11, a breather before the Play-In Tournament begins April 14.
💡 Marquee Game Protections Are Back
To prioritize player health and top-tier performance, the NBA continues its commitment to limiting back-to-backs, with the average now just under 15 per team.
Special protection applies to marquee games, meaning no team will play the day before:
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Opening Week games
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NBA Cup games
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Christmas Day
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day (NBC/Peacock games)
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ABC and NBC weekend broadcasts
🏆 NBA Cup Returns (with a Twist)
As with last season, each team will play 82 total games, but only 80 are currently scheduled.
The final two slots depend on how teams perform in the NBA Cup round-robin. The Championship Game in Las Vegas doesn’t count toward the regular season, meaning the two finalists would technically play 83 games.
🔥 Must-Watch Matchups
⭐ Luka Doncic vs. the Mavericks
Now a Los Angeles Laker, Luka Doncic faces his former team four times:
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@ Dallas: Jan. 24 (ABC), April 5 (NBC/Peacock)
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@ LA: Nov. 28 & Feb. 12 (both on Prime Video)
Expect fireworks.
🏆 Finals Rematches: Thunder vs. Pacers
The two NBA Finalists clash early and late:
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Oct. 23: Thunder @ Pacers
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Jan. 23: Pacers @ Thunder
Circle those dates.
📺 Your New Weekly TV Guide
The NBA's new national TV schedule brings prime-time basketball nearly every night:
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Monday – Peacock
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Tuesday – NBC
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Wednesday – ESPN
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Thursday – Prime Video
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Friday – ESPN & Prime Video
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Saturday – Afternoon on Prime, Night on ABC
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Sunday – Afternoon on ABC, Night on NBC
To make things easier, the league is rolling out a digital tool to help fans quickly find where to watch every nationally televised game — whether streaming or broadcast.
💬 Final Thoughts
The 2025-26 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most accessible and engaging in league history.
From wall-to-wall national coverage, to fan-friendly scheduling and competitive NBA Cup action, the NBA is making sure you won’t miss a moment.
🎯 Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and get ready for tip-off. The spotlight’s bigger than ever — and your favorite team is in it.
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