NBA: Summer Series Full Court Press | An opening night blockbuster as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers visit Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets to open up the 2024 season | Tuesday, May 21 at 8:00 PM (ET) on ESPN

Caption: A banner showcasing one of the highlights of the Week 1 Summer Series schedule. | Photo credit: Tamir Moore/Canva.

 

• Two exciting matchups on Opening Night, Tuesday, May 21, to begin the 2024 regular season - Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets host LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers (8 PM ET, ESPN); Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns battle Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in a Western Conference showdown (10:30 PM ET, ESPN).

• 2023 NBA Draft top pick Victor Wembanyama is set to make his debut on Wednesday, May 22 as the San Antonio Spurs host Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks (9:30 PM ET, ESPN).

• NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC makes 2024 season debut with a Saturday tripleheader on Saturday, May 25, culminating in the 8:30 PM ET primetime matchup as Josh Hart and the New York Knicks face off with Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans. Other games that day include 76ers vs. Raptors & Jazz vs. Suns.

• ABC Sunday Showcase travels to Houston to open up the national Sunday slate of games as Stephen Curry and the four-time NBA champions Golden State Warriors take on Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and the young upstarts, the Houston Rockets on Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 PM ET.

• Orlando Magic F Jonathan Isaac to join the cast as a guest studio analyst on Wednesday & Friday.

• NBA Countdown is set to have THREE on-location broadcasts this week - Tuesday, May 21 (from Denver), Wednesday, May 22 (from San Antonio) & Saturday, May 25 (from New Orleans).

Monday, May 20, 2024

| This week's summary of broadcast plans:

The 2024 Summer Series regular season is now officially upon us! It's kinda hard to believe that Opening Week in the Summer Series is this week! But, ABC and ESPN have you covered with 12 live games during the first week of regular season competition.

The 2024 season opens up with a robust doubleheader featuring Western Conference teams on Tuesday, May 21. Tuesday's action begins with a special two-hour edition of NBA Countdown presented by Target at 6:00 PM (ET) on ESPN. Host Miles Johnson leads the show from a set outside of Ball Arena (the home arena of the Denver Nuggets), alongside analysts Damian Dunn, Tyrese Haliburton, Diamond Miller and insider Chris Haynes. During the 7 p.m. (ET) to 8 p.m. (ET) hour, the cast will move inside the Ball Arena for further coverage of pregame activities there. Following the conclusion of the Suns vs. Warriors game, the studio team will return from inside Ball Arena to discuss Opening Night on NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google, starting at 1:00 AM (ET) on Wednesday morning.

The defending NBA: Summer Series champions Denver Nuggets, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, are slated to receive their championship rings and host a banner raising ceremony before hosting four-time champion & four-time MVP LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00 PM (ET) on ESPN. Kevin Harlan, who rejoined the Summer Series broadcast team this season, is on the call alongside analyst Cam Whitmore and veteran reporter Lisa Salters.

Tuesday's action on ESPN then shifts to San Francisco for the 10:30 PM (ET) nightcap. This marquee Opening Night game sees Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns visiting Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors. Former Sun Chris Paul is expected to make his Warriors debut versus his former team. ESPN NBA commentator Brian Anderson handles the play-by-play, with 2008 NBA Champion coach Doc Rivers providing analysis & reporter Jacob Hardie keeping viewers updated from the sidelines.

The opening week then continues with another ESPN doubleheader on Wednesday, May 22. NBA Countdown presented by Target will open up the evening's coverage at 6:30 PM (ET), with coverage emanating from the FrostBank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Malika Andrews will host the program, with three-time NBA champion Danny Green, Austin Rivers, 2016 NBA Champion Tristian Thompson comprising of Andrews' analysts for the show. Also joining the crew from New Orleans is Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac. Isaac will make the first of his two guest studio appearances this week, as Isaac will also be a part of the studio coverage team on Friday night (NBA Countdown, halftime & NBA: After the Buzzer). ESPN NBA insider Ramona Shelburne will round out the studio cast. Wednesday's NBA Countdown show will feature Malika's exclusive interview with Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, to gauge his feelings before his highly anticipated debut.

Andrews, Green, Rivers, Thompson, Isaac & Shelburne are set to return following the Mavericks vs. Spurs game to host NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google, starting at 12:00 AM (ET) (Thursday morning) on ESPN. The studio team will be stationed inside the FrostBank Center for postgame coverage.

Wednesday's ESPN doubleheader begins at the historic Madison Square Garden at 7:00 PM ET as Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics visit Josh Hart and the New York Knicks. Play-by-play commentator David Moskowitz is joined by 2016 National Champion Kris Jenkins and two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart at the broadcast table. Reporter Susan Reutter will provide in-game updates during the broadcast. 

The ESPN doubleheader continues at 9:30 PM ET with the highly anticipated debut of Victor Wembanyama as the San Antonio Spurs host Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks. The NBA Finals team of Curtis Stockley, Jermaine Samuels, Justin Moore & Michelle Kuc will be on the call.

The 2024 opening week will then move forward with a marquee doubleheader on Thursday, May 23. Thursday's coverage begins with NBA Countdown presented by Target at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN, hosted by Sam Prince, alongside Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, three-time Sixth Man of the Year recipient Jamal Crawford, two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery & insider Kendra Andrews. The team will return for postgame coverage on the NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google postgame show, starting at 1:00 AM (ET) (Friday) morning, following the Suns vs. Lakers game.

Thursday's ESPN doubleheader begins in Milwaukee as Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers clash with newly acquired Bucks star Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:00 PM (ET). Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer play-by-play voice Mike Breen, analyst and 2008 NBA champion head coach Doc Rivers and reporter Jacob Hardie will have the call. Following this game, at 10:30 PM (ET), Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns face off with Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers in a huge early season Western Conference matchup. Kevin Harlan and Cam Whitmore will be joined by six-time WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins-Smith at the table, with Stephanie Ready reporting.

ESPN will keep the Opening Week fun going with a fourth straight doubleheader night on Friday, May 24. Coverage will launch for the night with NBA Countdown presented by Target at 7:00 PM (ET) on ESPN. Malika Andrews will host the show with analysts Danny Green, Austin Rivers, Tristian Thompson, with special guest analyst Jonathan Isaac once again hanging out in the studio. The studio crew will return for postgame coverage and provide their insight and opinions on NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google, starting at 12:30 AM (ET) (Saturday) morning on ESPN, following the Warriors vs. Kings game.

Game coverage on Friday evening begins at 7:30 PM (ET) when Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat battle Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in a re-match of the last two Eastern Conference Finals. Dane Richardson is on the call with analyst Justin Moore and reporter Susan Reutter. Then, ESPN goes to Sacramento for a Western Conference Quarterfinals rematch at 10:00 PM (ET), as Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors visit De'Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings. David Moskowitz, analyst Jermaine Samuels and reporter Jennifer Wells will provide commentary on ESPN.

Opening week coverage shifts to ABC for game action on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26. 

Saturday's coverage on ABC sees the season premiere of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC with a tripleheader. Saturday's coverage on ABC begins at 2:00 PM (ET) with NBA Countdown presented by Target, live from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, with Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes hosting. The crew will then return for a second NBA Countdown show at 8:00 PM (ET) prior the Knicks vs. Pelicans game. Following that game, the studio team is back to wrap up the day's action on the NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google postgame show, starting at 11:00 PM (ET) on ABC.

The NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC tripleheader begins at 3:00 PM (ET) when reigning MVP Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers visit Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors in a Atlantic Division matchup. Play-by-play commentator Grayson Singleton will call the matchup, with analyst and five-time All-Star Jayson Tatum and fellow analyst and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Doris Burke. Isaiah Walker will report from the sidelines. The tripleheader on ABC continues at 5:30 PM (ET) when Collin Sexton and the Utah Jazz visit Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns. Teagan Brown, three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker and reporter Jorge Sedano will the call the game.

The 8:30 PM (ET) matchup on ABC serves the nightcap for the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC. The first regularly scheduled Saturday night game sees Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks visit CJ McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans. The lead NBA on ESPN crew of Curtis Stockley (play-by-play), Jermaine Samuels Jr. (analyst), Justin Moore (analyst) & Michelle Kuc (reporter) will work this contest.

Sunday sees the first ABC Sunday Showcase game of the brand new season. Sunday's live coverage starts at 1:30 PM (ET) on ABC with NBA Countdown presented by Target. Host Katie George, analyst Chiney Ogwumike & insider Adrian Wojnarowski make up the studio team for Sunday's pregame coverage. Sunday's NBA Countdown show will have a special feature as lead studio host Miles Johnson offers his predictions for the upcoming season. George, Ogwumike & Wojnarowski return to host the NBA: After the Buzzer postgame show, starting at 4:30 PM (ET) on ABC, following the Warriors vs. Rockets game for complete postgame coverage and a final thought about Sunday's game.

At 2:00 PM (ET), two Western Conference teams take the court as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors battle Jabari Smith Jr. and the Houston Rockets. Play-by-play commentator David Moskowitz, analysts Breanna Stewart and Kris Jenkins, and reporter Susan Reutter describe the action from the Toyota Center.

| Links:

Check out the 2024 national broadcast schedule and weekly press release updates here!

• 2024 NBA: Summer Series Schedule: https://tamirmoore.blogspot.com/p/2024-nba-summer-series-on-espn-and-abc.html

• Weekly Press Updates Hub: https://tamirmoore.blogspot.com/p/nba-summer-series-press-releases-2023.html

Here is the complete broadcast schedule with announcing assignments (when made available) for Week 1 of the 2024 Summer Series season (subject to change).

• NBA: Summer Series - 2024 Regular Season, Week 1 - Broadcast Schedule (All Times ET and Subject to Change)

* Tuesday, May 21 (Opening Night)

. 6:00 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target (Live from Denver) - ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN App

Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Tyrese Haliburton, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes

 vs

. 8:00 PM (ET) - Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets presented by American Express - ESPN, ESPN App

Kevin Harlan, Cam Whitmore & Lisa Salters

 vs

. 10:30 PM (ET) - Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors presented by American Express - ESPN, ESPN App

Brian Anderson, Doc Rivers & Jacob Hardie

. 1:00 AM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google (Live from Denver) - ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN App

Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Tyrese Haliburton, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes

* Wednesday, May 22

. 6:30 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target (Live from San Antonio) - ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN App

Malika Andrews, Austin Rivers, Danny Green, Tristan Thompson, Jonathan Isaac & Ramona Shelburne

 vs

. 7:00 PM (ET) - Boston Celtics at New York Knicks presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

David Moskowitz, Kris Jenkins, Breanna Stewart & Susan Reutter

 vs

. 9:30 PM (ET) - Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

Curtis Stockley, Justin Moore, Jermaine Samuels & Michelle Kuc

. 12:00 AM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google (Live from San Antonio) - ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN App

Malika Andrews, Austin Rivers, Danny Green, Tristan Thompson, Jonathan Isaac & Ramona Shelburne

* Thursday, May 23

. 7:00 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target - ESPN, ESPN App

Sam Prince, Renee Montgomery, Jamal Crawford, Shaquille O'Neal & Kendra Andrews

 vs

. 8:00 PM (ET) - Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

Mike Breen, Doc Rivers & Jacob Hardie

 vs

. 10:30 PM (ET) - Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

Kevin Harlan, Cam Whitmore, Skylar Diggins-Smith & Stephanie Ready

. 1:00 AM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google - ESPN, ESPN App

Sam Prince, Renee Montgomery, Jamal Crawford, Shaquille O'Neal & Kendra Andrews

* Friday, May 24

. 7:00 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target - ESPN, ESPN App

Malika Andrews, Austin Rivers, Danny Green, Tristan Thompson, Jonathan Isaac & Ramona Shelburne

 vs

. 7:30 PM (ET) - Miami Heat at Boston Celtics presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

Dane Richardson, Justin Moore & Susan Reutter

 vs

. 10:00 PM (ET) - Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings presented by State Farm - ESPN, ESPN App

David Moskowitz, Jermaine Samuels & Jennifer Wells

. 12:30 AM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google - ESPN, ESPN App

Malika Andrews, Austin Rivers, Danny Green, Tristan Thompson, Jonathan Isaac & Ramona Shelburne

* Saturday, May 25

. 2:00 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target (Live from New Orleans) - ABC, ESPN App

Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes

 vs

. 3:00 PM (ET) - Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors presented by State Farm - ABC, ESPN App

Grayson Singleton, Doris Burke, Jayson Tatum & Isaiah Walker

 vs

. 5:30 PM (ET) - Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns presented by State Farm - ABC, ESPN App

Teagan Brown, Candace Parker & Jorge Sedano

. 8:00 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target (Live from New Orleans) - ABC, ESPN App

Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes

 vs

. 8:30 PM (ET) - New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans presented by State Farm - ABC, ESPN App

Curtis Stockley, Jermaine Samuels, Justin Moore & Michelle Kuc

. 11:00 PM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google (Live from New Orleans) - ABC, ESPN App

Miles Johnson, Damian Dunn, Diamond Miller & Chris Haynes

* Sunday, May 26

. 1:30 PM (ET) - NBA Countdown presented by Target - ABC, ESPN App

Katie George, Chiney Ogwumike & Adrian Wojnarowski

 vs

. 2:00 PM (ET) - Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets presented by State Farm - ABC, ESPN App

David Moskowitz, Kris Jenkins, Breanna Stewart & Susan Reutter

. 4:30 PM (ET) - NBA: After the Buzzer presented by Google - ABC, ESPN App

Katie George, Chiney Ogwumike & Adrian Wojnarowski

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