The 2025 NBA playoffs served as a marker for the league’s future, with the Oklahoma City Thunder becoming the youngest champion in four decades, their average playoff-minute-weighted roster age 24.7. They navigated a path to the title by eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by 24-year-old Anthony Edwards, and the Indiana Pacers, led by 25-year-old Tyrese Haliburton.
Looking ahead to 2025-26, the NBA will once again spotlight its veteran stars through its national TV and streaming slate. LeBron James’s Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors are slated to appear 34 times each across the league’s broadcast partners—ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock or Amazon Prime—despite neither team being projected to finish better than 47-35 by oddsmakers. Those two teams will have the same number of national appearances as the defending champion Thunder.
Among the broader narrative, the Lakers are noted as being led by 26-year-old Luka Dončić, a perennial MVP candidate, even as the schedule follows a multi-year pattern. The Lakers and Warriors topped national TV counts last year, followed by the Thunder, despite projections of around 43.5 wins for both teams.
The schedule also reflects the NBA’s push to extend marquee exposure for veterans, with the Houston Rockets increasing from three national TV games last season to 28 this year after acquiring Kevin Durant, illustrating the league’s commitment to reviving its 2010s stars.
The league is not ignoring rising talent either. The Timberwolves expanded from 18 to 28 high-profile games after their conference finals run. Fans will also see Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 21-year-old phenom, on 22 national appearances, and Cade Cunningham, the Pistons’ 23-year-old budding star, will be featured in 16 national TV games this season after just one last year.
Some teams did face limits, though. The Cavaliers, with the fourth-best title odds in the league, will play 24 national TV games—only the ninth-most in the NBA. The Orlando Magic, even with strong East odds, sit in the middle of the pack with 14 games. The Pacers, runners-up a season ago but without Haliburton due to an Achilles injury, will be limited to nine national TV games, the same count as the Phoenix Suns, who were viewed as a disappointment last season.
Overall national-game exposure will rise in 2025-26 under the league’s new media-rights package. Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will carry the slate, with games scheduled on every day of the week once the NFL season ends. The mix expands beyond cable to streaming, adding Peacock and Amazon Prime to the rotation. The league has shifted away from TNT toward NBC for over-the-air access, but fans will need subscriptions to Peacock ($10.99 per month) and Amazon Prime ($14.99 per month) to access every game.
Summary: The Thunder’s breakout as the league’s youngest champion sits alongside a 2025-26 TV plan that emphasizes star power while expanding streaming access, blending legacy teams with rising talents and reshaping how fans can watch games across multiple platforms.
Positive take: The moves show the NBA striving to balance the appeal of veteran superstars with opportunities for young stars to shine, while expanding access through streaming partnerships to reach more fans across more platforms.
Additional notes for readers: The evolving broadcast strategy could influence game-night experiences, scheduling, and regional viewing options in meaningful ways—especially for fans who increasingly rely on streaming services in addition to traditional TV.