2024 - 2025 NBA on ESPN Schedule

Caption: The current NBA on ESPN logo (2022-present). Photo credit: SportsVideo.org

Thursday, August 15, 2024

• ESPN returns for the 23rd straight season to televise NBA games.

• Blockbuster Opening Week action features two doubleheaders in the primetime slots, star power, and multiple firsts.

• 13 consecutive hours of exclusive Christmas Day coverage kicks off at Madison Square Garden in New York (Wednesday, December 25 | Spurs at Knicks | 12:00 PM ET | ESPN, ESPN App).

• Emirates NBA Cup Tournament Action

On Thursday, August 15, ESPN and ABC announced, in lockstep with the NBA, their complete 2024-25 NBA regular season national broadcast schedule. The 2024-25 campaign marks ESPN's 23rd straight year televising NBA basketball. Recently, the two organizations - ESPN and the NBA - announced a landmark 11-year rights extension that will see ESPN (and ABC) remain as the primary television partner of the NBA and the exclusive home of the NBA Finals through 2036. (In fact, I will be publishing an article with more details about this later on this year.)

Season-Opening Action:

The 2024-25 season opens up on Wednesday, October 23, when Giannis Antetokoumnpo and the Milwaukee Bucks take their talents to the City of the Brotherly Love to oppose Paul George and the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 PM (ET) (in George's first game as a Philadelphia 76er). Then, at 10:00 PM (ET), ESPN will televise the first-ever regular season contest at the new Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California - the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers. James Harden and the Clippers host Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.

ESPN's season-opening action continues on Friday, October 25, when the Josh Hart and the New York Knicks play TJ McConnell and the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 PM (ET) (in a re-match of last year's Eastern Conference Semifinals). Later that night, at 10:00 PM (ET), four members of the 2024 USA Basketball Men's National Team that won Olympic gold will be action in the game, as LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to compete at Crypto.com Arena against Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.

Christmas Day Star Power:

The NBA's biggest star attractions will be spotlighted as ESPN platforms exclusively present the entire NBA Christmas Day lineup on Wednesday, December 25, beginning at 12:00 PM (ET). At that time on ESPN, Victor Wembanyama (playing his first-ever Christmas Day game) and the San Antonio Spurs visit Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks at historic Madison Square Garden in New York City. ESPN will also serve as the final piece of the Christmas television puzzle at 10:30 PM (ET) when Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets collide with Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.

In the interim (in simple words, in between the Spurs-Knicks game and the Nuggets-Suns game), ESPN will simulcast the three games that are set to air on ABC that day - Timberwolves vs. Mavericks (2:30 PM ET), 76ers vs. Celtics (5:00 PM ET) & Lakers vs. Warriors (8:00 PM ET).

Additional ESPN schedule highlights:

• League-leading 11 appearances by Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets.
• 10 appearances each by Jayson Tatum and the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks & Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
• 9 appearances each by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, Klay Thompson and the Dallas Mavericks, Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• ESPN's first-ever regular season game from Paris, France on Saturday, January 25 as Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers provide the opposition for French sensation and reigning Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama and his San Antonio Spurs (12:00 PM ET).
• NBA Rivals Week - Wednesday, January 22 through Saturday, January 25 - features five games across platforms (ABC and ESPN).
• 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game from San Francisco on Friday, February 14.
• Ascending teams and rising stars confront each other as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, February 23.

ESPN's regular season coverage of 80 games for the 2024-25 season generally features doubleheaders on Wednesday and Friday nights, Emirates NBA Cup Group Play games in November, coverage of all five Christmas Day games, first and second round postseason games & the 2025 Western Conference Finals.

All ESPN NBA programming this season is also available to people via the ESPN App. ESPN's NBA pregame show is NBA Countdown, which airs generally 30 minutes prior to games on ABC and ESPN. NBA Today, ESPN's official daily studio show surrounding the NBA, airs Mondays through Fridays from 3:00 PM (ET) to 4:00 PM (ET).

• 🖇 Link to 2024-2025 NBA on ABC Schedule: 2024 - 2025 NBA on ABC Schedule

The complete 2024-25 NBA on ESPN Schedule (including preseason & regular season broadcast) is displayed below. Updates will be made regularly throughout the season as far as announcer assignments and game schedules are concerned.

|| * NBA on ESPN: 2024-25 NBA Preseason & Regular Season Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern; Subject to Change)

• NBA on ESPN: 2024-25 NBA Preseason Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern; Subject to Change)

* Sunday, October 6 (Preseason)

. Bucks at Pistons - ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, October 9 (Preseason)

. Warriors at Kings - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, October 13 (Preseason)

. Timberwolves at Knicks - ESPN, 6:00 PM (ET) - 

. Suns at Nuggets - ESPN, 8:30 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, October 18 (Preseason)

. Lakers at Warriors - ESPN2, 10:30 PM (ET) - 

• NBA on ESPN: 2024-25 NBA Regular Season Broadcast Schedule (All Times Eastern; Subject to Change)

* Wednesday, October 23 (Opening Week)

. Bucks at 76ers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Suns at Clippers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

- Clippers' first regular season game at the Intuit Dome

* Friday, October 25 (Opening Week)

. Pacers at Knicks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Suns at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, October 30

. Celtics at Pacers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Spurs at Thunder - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, November 1

. Magic at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) -

. Nuggets at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, November 6

. Warriors at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. 76ers at Clippers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, November 8

. Suns at Mavericks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. 76ers at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, November 13

. Pelicans at Thunder - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Nuggets at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, November 15 (Emirates NBA Cup, Group Play 🏆)

. Lakers at Spurs (West Group B) - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Grizzlies at Warriors (West Group C) - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, November 20

. Bulls at Bucks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Knicks at Suns - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, November 22 (Emirates NBA Cup, Group Play 🏆)

. Pacers at Bucks (East Group B) - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Mavericks at Nuggets (West Group C) - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) -

* Wednesday, November 27

. Knicks at Mavericks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Thunder at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, November 29 - Black Friday (Emirates NBA Cup, Group Play 🏆)

. Clippers at Timberwolves (West Group A) - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) -

. Thunder at Lakers (West Group B) - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, December 6

. Bucks at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Timberwolves at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, December 25 - 🎄 Christmas Day

. Spurs at Knicks - ESPN, 12:00 PM (ET) -

. Timberwolves at Mavericks - ABC/ESPN, 2:30 PM (ET) - 

. 76ers at Celtics - ABC/ESPN, 5:00 PM (ET) - 

. Lakers at Warriors - ABC/ESPN, 8:00 PM (ET) -

. Nuggets at Suns - ESPN, 10:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, January 8

. Raptors at Knicks - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Spurs at Bucks - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, January 15

. Knicks at 76ers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Heat at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, January 17

. Magic at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Hornets at Bulls - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, January 22

. Timberwolves at Mavericks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Warriors at Kings - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Saturday, January 25

. Pacers vs. Spurs (Paris) - ESPN, 12:00 PM (ET) - 

- 2025 NBA Paris Games (Accor Arena)

* Wednesday, January 29

. Nuggets at Knicks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Thunder at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, January 31

. Nuggets at 76ers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Suns at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, February 2

. Celtics at 76ers - ESPN, 6:00 PM (ET) - 

. Grizzlies at Bucks - ESPN, 8:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, February 5

. Spurs at Hawks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Pelicans at Nuggets - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, February 7

. 76ers at Pistons - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Jazz at Suns - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, February 12

. Spurs at Celtics - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Warriors at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, February 14 (2025 NBA All-Star Weekend: San Francisco 🌉)

2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game (Site TBD - San Francisco, California)

. Team TBD vs. Team TBD (San Francisco) - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, February 21

. Knicks at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Pelicans at Mavericks - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, February 23

. Heat at Bucks - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Thunder at Timberwolves - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, February 26

. 76ers at Knicks - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Spurs at Rockets - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, February 28

. Cavaliers at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Clippers at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, March 2

. Thunder at Spurs - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Timberwolves at Suns - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, March 5

. Heat at Cavaliers - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Mavericks at Bucks - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Friday, March 7

. Grizzlies at Mavericks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Suns at Nuggets - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, March 9

. Grizzlies at Pelicans - ESPN, 7:00 PM (ET) - 

. Kings at Clippers - ESPN, 9:30 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, March 12

. Thunder at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Timberwolves at Nuggets - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, March 16

. Thunder at Bucks - ESPN, 9:00 PM (ET) - 

* Monday, March 17 - ☘ St. Patrick's Day

. Heat at Knicks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Nuggets at Warriors - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, March 19

. Pelicans at Timberwolves - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Nuggets at Lakers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, March 26

. Lakers at Pacers - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Celtics at Suns - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, April 2

. Heat at Celtics - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Pelicans at Clippers - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Wednesday, April 9

. Lakers at Mavericks - ESPN, 7:30 PM (ET) - 

. Nuggets at Kings - ESPN, 10:00 PM (ET) - 

* Sunday, April 13 (NBA on ESPN Regular Season Finale)

. Teams TBD - ESPN, 1:00 PM (ET) - 

. Teams TBD - ESPN, 3:30 PM (ET) - 

- Sources 🛈: ESPN Press Room (schedule)

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