2025-26 NBA Schedule Unveiled: Key Insights on the Season Plan, Kickoff Week, Christmas games, and NBA Championship Contests
The countdown to the 2025-26 NBA season is on, with the full schedule set to be released on August 14, 2025, at 3:15 p.m. ET. This upcoming season promises excitement, with new acquisitions, expanded broadcast partnerships, and a return to traditional holiday matchups.
Opening Night (October 21, 2025):
The defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will raise their championship banner and receive their rings as they take on the Houston Rockets, featuring the newly acquired Kevin Durant. The Thunder-Rockets matchup will be aired on NBC. The night's action will also see a marquee Lakers-Warriors showdown, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry facing off, airing on the same network.
NBA Cup Games:
The NBA Cup group stage begins on October 31, 2025. Notable games include the Dallas Mavericks vs. Lakers, showcasing Anthony Davis' return to Los Angeles, and Kevin Durant's return to Phoenix as a Rocket, both airing on NBC. Amazon Prime Video will have exclusive rights to NBA Cup and Play-In Tournament games.
Christmas Day Matchups (December 25, 2025):
The holiday season will see a return of the traditional NBA Christmas Day matchups, with a Lakers vs. Rockets showdown headlined by Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic. Other games include the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers.
Broadcast Partners:
NBC returns as a broadcast partner for the first time since 2002, airing the first games of the season, All-Star festivities, and some playoff coverage. Amazon Prime Video has a new partnership for exclusive NBA Cup games and play-in tournaments, expanding streaming options for fans.
In summary, the 2025-26 NBA season opens on October 21 with two Western Conference matchups featuring key stars and ends the year with a Christmas Day slate of five games including teams with major new acquisitions. The NBA Cup and expanded broadcast partnerships with NBC and Amazon Prime are new highlights for the season's media coverage.
The 2025-26 NBA season will see the return of traditional holiday matchups on Christmas Day, featuring a Lakers vs. Rockets showdown, as well as games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, and Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. The defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will face the Houston Rockets in the season opener on October 21, with the game airing on NBC. The NBA Cup group stage starts on October 31, and the games will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. NBC and Amazon Prime Video have partnered with the NBA, with NBC airing the first games of the season, All-Star festivities, and some playoff coverage, while Amazon Prime Video will have exclusive rights to NBA Cup games and Play-In Tournament matches. The upcoming season promises excitement, with new leagues, improved sports coverage, and a return to traditional holiday matchups.
