Below is guide to many of the most asked questions about watching NBA games during the upcoming 2025-26 season.
• How to watch NBA games in 2025-26: Everything you need to know
When does the 2025-26 NBA season tip off?
The 2025-26 NBA season tips off with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock. The Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).
Where can fans watch NBA games this season?
Season-long national games:
- Monday: Peacock.
- Tuesday: NBC/Peacock.
- Wednesday: ESPN.
- Friday: Amazon Prime (rotating with ESPN beginning 1/16).
Additional weekly national games starting midseason:
- Thursday: Amazon Prime
- Saturday: Amazon Prime (afternoon games) + ABC (Saturday primetime).
- Sunday: ABC (Sunday showcase in the afternoon) + NBC/Peacock (night games).
What about NBA League Pass?
NBA League Pass will continue to be available via traditional cable and satellite distributors, and thus fans who subscribe to traditional cable will continue to be able to purchase NBA League Pass from their provider. NBA League Pass will also be available for both purchase and consumption via the NBA App and NBA.com.
As part of the NBA’s broader partnership with Amazon for the 2025-26 season, they will be the primary third-party digital distributor of NBA League Pass.
How can fans watch national Emirates NBA Cup games?
Prime Video will stream five consecutive Friday night doubleheaders of Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Group Play games, beginning on Oct. 31 with the Boston Celtics visiting the Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET) and the Memphis Grizzlies hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 p.m. ET).
- The Group Play schedule will conclude the day after Thanksgiving with a Black Friday doubleheader, when the Milwaukee Bucks visit the New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks (10 p.m. ET).
- Prime Video will stream the Quarterfinals (Dec. 10) in addition to exclusively streaming the Semifinals (Dec. 13) plusthe Championship Game (Dec. 16) of the Emirates NBA Cup.
- See the full NBA Cup schedule herefor games available locally and on League Pass.
Where can fans watch the NBA on Christmas Day?
Disney will televise all Christmas Day games on ABC/ESPN, continuing an 18-year tradition. The five game slate includes:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers at the New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET)
- The San Antonio Spurs at the Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m. ET)
- The Dallas Mavericks at the Golden State Warriors (5 p.m. ET)
- The Houston Rockets at the Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m. ET)
- The Minnesota Timberwolves at the Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET)
Where can fans watch MLK Day games?
The 40thedition of the NBA on MLK Day will feature four matchups on NBC & Peacock:
- Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET, exclusively on Peacock)
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks (5 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
- Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Where can fans watch NBA All-Star?
- NBC and Peacock will become the home of NBA All-Star, including Rising Stars (exclusively on Peacock), State Farm All-Star Saturday Night—featuring AT&T Slam Dunk, Starry 3-Point Contest and Kia Skills Challenge—and the All-Star Game.
- ESPN will continue to telecast the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.
Where can fans watch the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament?
- Prime Video is the exclusive home for all six games of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament 2026–which determines the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference. Games take place Tuesday, April 14; Wednesday, April 15; and Friday, April 17.
Where can fans watch the NBA Finals?
- ABC remains the exclusive home of the NBA Finals, which it has broadcast since 2003.
- All ABC and ESPN games will also be available via the ESPN direct-to-consumer offering.
Where can fans watch the NBA Draft events and Summer League?
- ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast NBA Combine, NBA Draft Lottery and NBA Draft.
- ESPN and Amazon Prime will each telecast half of NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas.
Where can fans watch NBA Global Games?
- Peacock will stream the NBA Mexico City Game 2025 between the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons on Saturday, Nov. 1 (10 p.m. ET).
- Prime Video will stream the NBA Berlin Game 2026 presented by Tissot on Thursday, Jan. 15 (2 p.m. ET) and the NBA London Game 2026 presented by Tissot on Sunday, Jan. 18 (12p.m. ET), both between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic.
What if I can’t find my team’s game?
With our new “Tap To Watch” initiative this season, fans will have easy access to live NBA games across the NBA App and NBA.com. Tap to Watch will also be available through national and other NBA partners such as Google, Meta, X, Snap, Reddit, Roku, Dapper Labs and more. Further integrations with FanDuel and Fanatics, as well as other digital and connected TV partners, will roll out during the season.
