NBA returns to NBC with Peacock debut schedule

NBC brings back the NBA with a large slate and streams on Peacock, including Monday doubleheaders, Tuesday showcases, and a Sunday night lineup.

NBA returns to NBC with Peacock debut schedule

After a 24 year gap, the NBA returns to NBC and expands to Peacock, delivering more than 100 games across the season. Opening night on October 21 features a doubleheader: the Houston Rockets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder to receive their rings, followed by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Peacock NBA Monday will feature up to three games per week, starting October 27 with Cavaliers at Pistons and Nuggets at Timberwolves, and will include a marquee March matchup between Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday begins with a two-game doubleheader on NBC and Peacock on October 28, highlighting the league’s top teams in primetime across time zones.

Sunday Night Basketball launches on February 1, 2026, after NBC’s NFL coverage, streaming on Peacock, with select games and a focus on high-profile clashes. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day quadrupleheader on January 19, 2026 will be streamed on Peacock, featuring four big-name teams in a single afternoon array.

These changes underscore NBC and Peacock’s bid to blend traditional broadcast reach with streaming exclusives, aiming to broaden access while preserving marquee national matchups.

The rollout signals a shift in how large leagues stage their seasons. NBC leans on a familiar brand while leaning into Peacock to host exclusive games, a move that could widen reach but tests how audiences balance linear TV with streaming.

The schedule prioritizes star power and historic rivalries, suggesting the goal is to turn big nights into must-see events. It also raises questions about the economics of hybrid rights, ad sales across platforms, and whether Peacock can sustain the custody of premium live sports beyond a few key windows.

Highlights

The season will reveal how well this blend of legacy broadcasting and streaming can attract and retain fans.