Get ready, basketball fans! The NBA's 2024-25 regular season schedule has been unveiled, and it's packed with exciting matchups and marquee events that will keep us glued to our screens. ESPN and ABC are once again bringing us the action, marking ESPN's 23rd consecutive year broadcasting the league, a testament to their enduring partnership with the NBA.
Season Opener: October 23rd The excitement kicks off on Wednesday, October 23rd. We'll see the Philadelphia 76ers, with Paul George now in the mix, hosting the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Later that night, at 10 p.m., ESPN will give us our first glimpse of the brand-new Intuit Dome as the LA Clippers host the Phoenix Suns. It’s always a thrill to see new arenas debut, and this one promises to be special.
Just two days later, on Friday, October 25th, ESPN continues its opening week coverage. The New York Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, will host the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton at 7:30 p.m. Then, at 10 p.m., get ready for a star-studded showdown: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers will host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Phoenix Suns. This game alone is worth marking your calendar for.
Christmas Day Extravaganza: December 25th Christmas Day is always a highlight for NBA enthusiasts, and this year is no exception. ESPN platforms will exclusively broadcast all five NBA Christmas games, starting at noon ET. We'll see the San Antonio Spurs and the highly anticipated Victor Wembanyama make their Christmas debut against the New York Knicks on ESPN. The day's coverage will wrap up with a late-night matchup featuring the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant taking on Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.
ABC will also be airing a festive tripleheader, beginning at 2:30 p.m. with the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Dončić hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards. At 5 p.m., the reigning NBA Champion Boston Celtics, with Jayson Tatum, will face Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. The evening culminates at 8 p.m. with an iconic clash: Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors against LeBron James's Los Angeles Lakers. It's worth noting that all three ABC Christmas games will also be available on ESPN.
More ABC and ESPN Highlights Looking beyond the holidays, ABC's schedule is stacked. We'll see the Lakers and Celtics each make six appearances, while the Mavericks and Warriors will be featured five times. The ninth season of 'NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC' returns during NBA Rivals Week on January 25th with a tripleheader, including a rematch of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, and a classic LeBron vs. Curry showdown as the Lakers face the Warriors.
ESPN's schedule is equally impressive, featuring the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokić a league-leading 11 times. The Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and New York Knicks will each have 10 appearances. A truly unique event will be ESPN's first regular-season NBA game from Paris, France, on January 25th, where Victor Wembanyama's Spurs will take on the Indiana Pacers.
NBA Rivals Week runs from January 22nd to 25th, promising five exciting matchups across various platforms. And don't forget the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on February 14th. The season continues to build excitement with matchups like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander visiting the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards on February 23rd.
It's shaping up to be another thrilling NBA season, and with this broadcast schedule, fans won't miss a moment of the action.
