Scheduled release of NBA calendar for the 2025-26 season: Here's what we've learned about the schedule, including the opening week and Christmas Day matchups
The 2025-26 NBA regular season is set to tip off on October 21, 2025, marking the beginning of a new multi-platform media era for the league. The season promises to be an exciting one, with high-profile matchups and a diverse lineup of broadcast partners.
Opening Night
The opening night of the season will feature some of the league's biggest stars. The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder will host Kevin Durant's Houston Rockets. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will face Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors, while the Dallas Mavericks will take on the San Antonio Spurs, highlighting top rookies' showdowns.
Christmas Day Games
The Christmas Day 2025 games will include a slate of five marquee matchups, with kickoff times as follows (all times ET):
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks at 12:00 p.m.
- San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m.
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors at 5:00 p.m.
- Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00 p.m.
- Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves at 10:30 p.m.
Broadcast Partners
The broadcast partners for the 2025-26 season will be NBC/Comcast, Amazon, and ESPN/ABC. NBC and Amazon will feature exclusive games, such as Durant's return to Phoenix on NBC and Davis's return to Los Angeles on Amazon Prime. ESPN/ABC will retain rights including the NBA Finals.
Key Dates and Events
- The NBA Cup group schedule runs from October 31 to December 16, 2025.
- The NBA All-Star Game is set for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
- The play-in tournament occurs from April 14 to 17, 2026, followed by playoffs starting April 18, and the NBA Finals begin June 4 with a possible Game 7 on June 21.
Other Notable Games
- The Los Angeles Lakers will tip off their season against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2025.
- The Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets game will be broadcast on Prime Video on November 7, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET.
- The Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets game will be broadcast on ABC/ESPN/Fubo on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET.
- The Lakers vs. Rockets game on Christmas Day will pit Kevin Durant against LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
- NBC and Disney have announced multiple marquee games for the 2025-26 season.
The 2025-26 NBA season promises to be an exciting one, with its diverse lineup of broadcast partners and high-profile matchups. Fans can look forward to an action-packed season filled with drama, suspense, and unforgettable moments.
- The 2025-26 NBA season, starting on October 21, 2025, will be broadcast by NBC/Comcast, Amazon, and ESPN/ABC, providing a new multi-platform media era for the league.
- Fans can witness some of the league's biggest stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Luka Doncic, on opening night.
- The Christmas Day games, featuring five marquee matchups, will provide thrilling entertainment for basketball enthusiasts worldwide.
- The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for February 15, 2026, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, providing an opportunity to witness the league's best players showcase their skills.
- Other notable games include the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors on opening night, a Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets matchup on November 7, 2025, and the Lakers vs. Rockets game on Christmas Day, which pits Kevin Durant against LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
