The NBA launched the 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Thursday, highlighting when all the highest matchups will happen. Opening evening continues to be over two months away on Oct. 21, however now followers will be capable to theorize over how properly — or how poorly — their crew will do based mostly on when the video games are scheduled. Other than the joy surrounding opening evening matchups, such because the Thunder internet hosting the Rockets and the Lakers enjoying the Warriors, or the Christmas Day slate, a key issue that at all times attracts consideration is which groups will likely be featured probably the most on nationwide tv.
2025-26 NBA schedule launch: Prime 10 must-see video games from season opener to Lakers vs. Mavericks and extra
Jasmyn Wimbish
This season isn’t any totally different from the previous, the place the groups on the prime of that checklist are simple to clarify. However not like final yr, there is not a single crew with probably the most video games on tv, maybe an indication that followers need to see a range on a nightly foundation reasonably than the identical 4 or 5 squads. Nonetheless, there are 4 groups that will likely be featured greater than the remaining. The place every crew ranks can really inform us quite a bit about how the league views sure franchises or gamers, particularly which groups appear to be on the rise, and which groups are falling out of the nationwide highlight. You can too inform how offseason strikes dictate which groups will get probably the most airtime, and the identical goes for accidents, too.
With that being stated, let’s check out the place all 30 groups rank in nationally televised video games for the 2024-25 season and provides some perception on why they’re the place they’re.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 2
The Wizards completed with the second-worst document final season, have not been to the playoffs since 2021, and regardless of a number of high-draft picks on their crew, have but to take ahead steps in a rebuild. It is no shock they’re tied on the backside of this checklist.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 2
The Jazz, just like the Wizards and the opposite three groups with simply two video games on nationwide tv, are within the midst of a rebuild, and till that adjustments, they’ll proceed to seek out themselves close to the underside of this checklist. Touchdown the No. 1 decide subsequent summer time will surely change that.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 2
Toronto was getting ready to making the play-in spherical a season in the past, and added Brandon Ingram to the roster, however that did not positively affect their standing on this checklist. If Ingram makes an enormous splash in Toronto and gels properly with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and the remainder of that younger core, they might discover themselves increased on this checklist subsequent season.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 2
The Nets are leaning all the best way right into a rebuild, a lot in order that they have been enjoying hardball with Cam Thomas on providing a contract extension. The Nets are going to be an unfinished mission subsequent season, so it will be some time earlier than they discover their means on nationwide tv sufficient to rely on a couple of hand.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 2
You’ll assume having Zion Williamson would carry sufficient weight to get the Pelicans not lumped in with the bottom-of-the-barrel groups. However uncertainty round his long-term future and buying and selling CJ McCollum clearly meant the league did not view them as a robust sufficient crew to placed on the nationwide stage greater than as soon as.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 3
Relying on LaMelo Ball’s well being and the way rapidly Kon Knueppel can develop in his rookie season, this can be a kind of conditions the place the league needs it had put this crew on nationwide tv extra. However Ball’s well being can by no means be counted on, and if he is out, the Hornets aren’t a crew you need to be watching.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 3
It’s a disgrace that the crew within the third largest media market within the nation can not muster extra nationwide consideration than this. However that is been the fact for the Bulls occurring a number of years now. Glad with mediocrity and in no rush to get out of that spot. Maybe Coby White and Matas Buzelis can inject some life again into this as soon as storied franchise, however till then, it is solely a trio of nationwide video games for Chicago.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 5
Even in an excellent yr, the Warmth by no means generate a ton of consideration, other than when LeBron James resided in South Seaside. A Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro combo clearly wasn’t sufficient to get increased on this checklist, and albeit, that is not shocking given the Warmth at all times underwhelm within the common season, even within the years they make shock playoff runs.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 8
It’s a tad shocking to see Portland get eight video games, particularly over a Miami crew that truly made the playoffs final yr. Damian Lillard‘s return is a touching story, however he will not be suiting up till at the very least October 2026. Whereas they’ve some thrilling younger items, I might’ve by no means guessed the league would throw them this many nationally televised video games.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 9
The humorous factor to consider right here is understanding the Bulls would’ve had this many nationally televised video games had they nonetheless had DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The Kings have change into the West Coast Bulls within the final yr, and as such, they’ve taken their spot on the nationwide stage, as small as that’s.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 9
How the mighty have fallen. Seems not having Kevin Durant on the crew would fully deplete Phoenix’s nationwide stature, and that is proof. A tandem of Devin Booker and Jalen Inexperienced goes to be intriguing to look at, however clearly, the league did not assume it was worthy sufficient of extra nationwide highlight.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 9
It is a disgrace as a result of had it not been for Tyrese Haliburton struggling a torn Achilles throughout the NBA Finals, the Pacers can be far increased on this checklist. Sadly, they’re getting handled as in the event that they by no means had one of the vital memorable NBA Finals runs in league historical past. Such is life when accidents fully derail your future.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 10
This looks as if a good spot for the Grizzlies, who’ve ebbed and flowed within the highlight during the last couple of years. Ja Morant is as field workplace as they arrive when it comes to watching him play, however accidents have held him again in every of the final two seasons. Memphis as an entire has struggled to remain wholesome, and it appears to be like just like the league is hedging if it occurs once more.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 13
The Hawks determine to be one of the vital fascinating groups within the East subsequent season. They’ve fully retooled to encompass Trae Younger with much more expertise, bringing in Kristaps Porziņģis and including Nickeil Alexander-Walker to what was an already promising younger core.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 14
Now we’re totally entering into the territory of “your offseason arduous work paid off.” The Magic went all in to get Desmond Bane — actually, they traded 4 first-round picks for him — and hope his capturing and playmaking will put Orlando over the sting to make a run just like the Pacers did final season. The league clearly sees the potential with the Magic and rewarded them as such.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 14
This feels truthful given how a lot the Sixers have been scheduled previously on nationwide tv just for each vital participant on the crew to undergo season-ending accidents. If the Sixers are wholesome, a few of their late-season video games may very well be flexed into nationwide video games. Nonetheless, in the event that they’re hit with the damage bug once more, 14 video games will likely be a lot.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 16
Detroit basketball is again! Nicely, nearly…perhaps. The Pistons secured a top-6 playoff spot final season and will construct upon that this season with Jaden Ivey again wholesome. It is shocking to see the league give the Pistons this many video games on the nationwide stage, nevertheless it’s definitely earned. Detroit may very well be a shock crew to look at subsequent season, and the league is definitely betting on that occuring.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s title is doing all of the heavy lifting right here. With Damian Lillard injured and not in Milwaukee, the Bucks aren’t the ticket they as soon as have been, and whereas they added Myles Turner, this simply is not a crew that has the identical draw because it as soon as did. Antetokounmpo, being one of many largest stars within the league, is sort of actually the one cause the Bucks will likely be featured this many occasions, and that is greater than truthful.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 21
The Clippers may both be a crew that dominates this season with a sensible shot at profitable a title, or Kawhi Leonard struggles to remain wholesome, Chris Paul turns into a non-factor and James Harden will likely be relied upon to hold this crew to a play-in spot. There actually appears like no in between right here. However all these names warrant an excellent chunk of video games, even when now we have to look at the damage report main as much as the opening tip each time they’re on tv.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 22
In a few years, this may appear to be an extremely low quantity of video games to have Victor Wembanyama, however for proper now, that is truthful. It isn’t simply Wemby that is the draw; they have the No. 2 decide on this yr’s draft, Dylan Harper, to make this crew intriguing, in addition to De’Aaron Fox and the reigning Rookie of the Yr Stephon Fortress.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 23
Touchdown the No. 1 decide with the best to draft Cooper Flagg saved the Mavericks in additional methods than one, and that is definitely one of many predominant ones. Had Dallas stayed on the No. 11 spot within the draft, they’d little question be far decrease on this checklist, however having Flagg, blended with Anthony Davis and Megan Thee Stallion’s boyfriend (Klay Thompson), signifies that we’ll be getting a healthy dose of the Mavericks subsequent season.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 24
It is shocking that the Cavs aren’t a bit increased on this checklist, given they completed with the very best document within the East a season in the past. However shedding within the second spherical might have harm their status, that, and the truth that they actually cannot compete with the star energy forward of them on this checklist.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 25
This is one other crew that may’ve gotten much more video games had Jayson Tatum not suffered an Achilles tear within the playoffs. That is nonetheless a excessive variety of video games, and that is partly because of Boston having one of many largest fanbases within the league, and the truth that, regardless of Tatum’s absence, that is nonetheless a crew that might end excessive in a weak Jap Convention.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 26
Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are most likely the most important risk to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder subsequent season, so it is solely proper they’re featured excessive on this checklist. You possibly can argue they need to be increased, actually, as a result of they’re going to doubtless end increased than every one of these groups however one subsequent season.
6. Houston Rockets
Variety of nationally televised video games: 28
The ability of getting Kevin Durant in your crew. The Suns felt that energy the final couple of seasons, however now that he is on the Rockets, Houston is the principle attraction. Lots of people will likely be launched to Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun for the primary time subsequent season, and for that, we thank the league.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 28
You may’t ignore back-to-back Western Convention finals appearances, even when the Timberwolves did little or no this summer time to make sure they might get again there for a 3rd consecutive time. However Anthony Edwards is likely one of the future faces of the league, and having him on nationwide tv as a lot as attainable is vital for the league.
Variety of nationally televised video games: 34
It has been a very long time for the reason that Knicks have had this a lot buzz round them getting into a season. Even final yr, not many individuals predicted that they’d get to the convention finals for the primary time in 25 years. They enter subsequent season with sky-high expectations and a official shot at attending to the NBA Finals.
3. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Variety of nationally televised video games: 34
It is no shock the Thunder are tied for having probably the most nationally televised video games. These are the defending champions with the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a core of younger gamers who’re simply as thrilling as they’re dominant to look at and play in opposition to. It is good to see that the league gave OKC this a lot consideration regardless of being a smaller market.
2. Golden State Warriors
Variety of nationally televised video games: 34
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced. That is why the Warriors are this excessive. So long as Curry is on the Warriors, they’ll proceed to be on tv greater than most groups, and that is comprehensible. Who would not need to watch the best shooter in NBA historical past 34 occasions on nationwide tv?
1. Los Angeles Lakers
Variety of nationally televised video games: 34
The Lakers are fairly actually the one crew proof against the “if dangerous, then fewer video games” concept. So, in fact, once they’re good, they are going to have a ton of video games on tv. There isn’t any stopping the Lakers model, no matter how good or dangerous they’re, and with Luka Dončić now the star of the present, you’ll be able to guess that they will be tied for probably the most nationally televised video games for a lot of extra seasons to return.
