Overview

• The season opener on Oct. 21 features the Houston Rockets at the defending champion Thunder and the Warriors at the Lakers under NBC’s first Opening Night broadcast in 23 years.
• Christmas Day on Dec. 25 will present five nationally televised games, highlighted by the Cavaliers at Knicks as the lone Eastern Conference matchup amid four Western Conference contests.
• NBC’s return for Opening Night is part of the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion media rights deal that also keeps Christmas Day games on ABC and ESPN.
• Opening Night spotlights Kevin Durant making his Rockets debut against his former Thunder team on the night Oklahoma City raises its championship banner.
• The NBA’s strategy of pairing high-profile rivalries such as LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry and timing national broadcasts aims to challenge NFL holiday viewership and drive fan engagement.