Need to Knows
- The NBA makes its long-awaited return to NBC and Peacock on Oct. 21.
- Opening night features Thunder vs. Rockets and Warriors vs. Lakers.
- OKC raises its first championship banner, with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the ceremony.
- NBC will air Peacock NBA Monday and a quadrupleheader on MLK Day.
Historic Comeback for NBC Sports
The NBA is back on NBC for the first time in over two decades, with games also streaming nationwide on Peacock. The league’s 2025–26 season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 21, with a doubleheader spotlighting both past rivalries and new storylines.
Opening Night Doubleheader
At 7:30 p.m. ET, the Oklahoma City Thunder will celebrate their first-ever championship with ring presentations and a banner ceremony led by Commissioner Adam Silver. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates will then face off against the Houston Rockets, led by former Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. The matchup also pits last season’s top two Western Conference seeds against each other.
The night’s second game, set for 10 p.m. ET, reignites the legendary rivalry between Stephen Curry and LeBron James as the Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Lakers. While Curry and LeBron remain the marquee names, much of the intrigue will center on the Lakers’ Luka Dončić, who made headlines this offseason for his slimmer, game-ready physique, and the Warriors’ newest star Jimmy Butler.
Peacock NBA Monday Debuts Oct. 27
NBC and Peacock also announced the start of Peacock NBA Monday, a weekly exclusive streaming series. The debut on Oct. 27 features Donovan Mitchell’s Cavaliers vs. Cade Cunningham’s Pistons at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves vs. Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets at 9:30 p.m. ET.
MLK Day Quadrupleheader
On Jan. 19, 2026, NBC Sports will air a Martin Luther King Jr. Day quadrupleheader showcasing some of the league’s biggest stars:
- 1:00 p.m. ET – Bucks at Hawks (Peacock exclusive)
- 2:30 p.m. ET – Thunder at Cavaliers (NBC/Peacock)
- 5:00 p.m. ET – Mavericks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock)
- 8:00 p.m. ET – Celtics at Pistons (NBC/Peacock)
Season-Long Coverage
Every NBA game aired on NBC will also be available nationwide on Peacock. The full 2025–26 NBA on NBC and Peacock schedule will be released Thursday.
