NBA’s Historic 2025-26 Season: New Broadcast Deals, Champion Thunder, and League-Wide Evolution

A New Era for NBA Broadcasting

The NBA has entered a groundbreaking era with its new broadcast and streaming schedule for the 2025-26 season, featuring partnerships with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon. The weekly schedule will showcase games across multiple platforms: Mondays on Peacock, Tuesdays on NBC/Peacock, Wednesdays on ESPN/ESPN App, Thursdays on Prime Video, Fridays on Prime Video and ESPN/ESPN App, Saturdays on Prime Video and ABC, and Sundays on ABC and NBC/Peacock.

Opening Night and Defending Champions

The 80th NBA regular season will kick off with a compelling doubleheader on October 21, 2025, featuring the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets. The Thunder’s championship victory came in a dramatic seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers, marking the first NBA title of the OKC era.

Notable Offseason Developments

The league’s free agency period has already produced several significant moves that will shape the 2025-26 season. Key developments include Myles Turner’s departure from the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers to join the Milwaukee Bucks, max extensions for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaren Jackson Jr., and James Harden securing a new two-year deal with the LA Clippers. Additionally, LeBron James has opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Innovations and Special Events

The NBA continues to evolve with new rule changes, including a modification that will consider shots taken within the final three seconds of the first three quarters from at least 36 feet away as team shot attempts rather than individual ones. The season will feature special events including NBA Rivals Week with 11 national games and Global Games in Mexico City, Berlin, and London, expanding the league’s international presence.

Looking Ahead

The regular season will conclude on Sunday, April 12, 2026, followed by the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, which will stream exclusively on Prime Video. The NBA Playoffs 2026 will commence on Saturday, April 18, with comprehensive coverage across Disney, NBCUniversal, and Prime Video platforms. The season will culminate with the NBA Finals 2026, which will be televised by ABC.