MIKE TIRICO, REGGIE MILLER, JAMAL CRAWFORD AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SAM FLOOD PRESENT THE RETURN OF THE NBA TO NBC AND THE DEBUT ON PEACOCK THIS TUESDAY OCTOBER. 21, At 7:30 p.m. ET
“We have front row seats for those of us who can stream the games and watch the greatest athletes, and I couldn’t be more excited for next Tuesday in Oklahoma City.” – Mike Tirico on the NBA’s return to NBC
“Are we seeing the formation of maybe a young Chicago Bulls team here in OKC with Shai? [Gilgeous-Alexander] being at the [Michael Jordan] And [Jalen Williams] being like Scottie Pippen and Chet [Holmgren] as [Dennis] Rodman? – Reggie Miller on the potential for an Oklahoma City Thunder dynasty
“I remember NBC coming in, the production and status of the event, and seeing the opening and hearing Bob Costas… It lit a fire in me, and never in a million years did I think I would be working with this great team.” – Jamal Crawford on the NBA’s return to NBC
“Those who watched the NBA on NBC during these glory years, from 1990 to 2002, they will feel that familiar rhythm and that familiar look that made the success of NBA on NBC so special. – Sam Flood on NBC Sports’ NBA production
NBA Tip-Off Doubleheader features the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets on October 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers hosting the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET – both games on NBC and Peacock; The coverage begins with NBA Showtime at 6:30 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – October 17, 2025 – As the NBA returns to NBC for the first time in more than two decades and debuts on Peacock with NBA Tip-Off this Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET, play-by-play voice of NBC Sports NBA Mike Tiricoanalyst and member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Reggie Milleranalyst and three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawfordand executive producer Sam Flood previewed the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season and NBC Sports coverage during a media conference call yesterday.
Here are some of the highlights, with the full transcript available here.
On the excitement of the NBA’s return to NBC
Mike Tirico, play by play: “We have front row seats for those of us who can stream the games to watch the greatest athletes, and I couldn’t be more excited for next Tuesday in Oklahoma City as they raise the banner and get started.”
Reggie Miller, analyst: “I had some of my best moments [during my playing career] on this network, and the chance for me to come home and be able to tell stories and hopefully create new moments for the next generation. Personally, for me, I’m a kid in a candy store.
Jamal Crawford, analyst: “Being here with this crew and crew, I literally remember NBC coming in, the production and status of the event, and seeing the opening and the viewership. Bob Costasand after the commercial break I went outside to see how many dribbles I could do before coming back. It lit a fire in me, and never in a million years would I have thought I would work with this great team.
On the production of NBC Sports
Executive Producer Sam Flood on Connecting to Old NBC Sports Shows: “It’s a different expectation on the part of an audience, so we will make sure to meet these expectations as best as possible. And then, clearly, between [John] clothes And Jim Fagan and the Peacock laser and a few other elements, you will feel that connection. And those who watched the NBA on NBC during these glory years, from 1990 to 2002, they will feel that familiar rhythm and that familiar look that made the success of NBA on NBC so special.
Tirico in team play-by-play: “We have such a good group with Noah Eaglewho I’ve known since birth, and he was born to do this. Terry GannonIt’s going to be great to have another shooter at the table, Terry calling the plays, and Michael GradyAlso.” (Note: Terry Gannon was a member of the 1983 North Carolina State men’s basketball team that won the national championship..)
Tirico on “On the bench»: “There are 1,230 NBA games in a regular season, so having a small percentage of them played in a very unique way kind of gives the opportunity to stand out among the volume that is the regular season with a unique broadcast.”
Flood on the return of the NBA to NBC: “The fact that the NBA is on network television, which remains the widest media reach, every Tuesday night except for a few during the regular season is really cool. It’s so important to just expose the NBA to more people and get a better, deeper fan base heading into the Playoffs, where it really builds.”
Predictions for the 2025-26 NBA season
Miller on the potential for an Oklahoma City Thunder dynasty: “Are we seeing the formation of perhaps a young Chicago Bulls team here in OKC with Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] being at the [Michael Jordan] And [Jalen Williams] being at the Scottie Pippen And Chet [Holmgren] as [Dennis] Rodman? They have the makeup, the coaching pedigree. They are very deep. And from everything I’ve read and watched, they seem very hungry.
Miller on the New York Knicks: “This is the year of the New York Knicks. If the Knicks can’t make it out of the Eastern Conference this year, something is wrong…with the new coach in Mike Brown and the best clutch player from a year ago Jalen BrunsonI think everything is ready for [them] to reach the East.
Crawford on Celtics star Jayson Tatum’s recovery from injury: “If I’m Tatum, I’m playing the long game. I don’t think the risk is worth it right now. He has a long career ahead of him, and I wouldn’t risk it by coming back early just because of his feeling good and his love of the game. Personally, I hope he takes his time and the Celtics have a chance to develop. [Payton] Prichard and see how he does in this starting role.
Tirico on the Detroit Pistons’ performance in the 2025 playoffs: “In these places you find out who wants the ball and who doesn’t. And if you watched these games, you saw Cade [Cunningham] undoubtedly becoming “that guy,” and how the people around him continue to progress. [Jaden] Ivey can come in and be added to this group, and that’s a big addition. With the East, given everything Reggie said correctly, I think this could be a very good year for the Pistons.
Miller on Dallas Mavericks rookie and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg: “He couldn’t have asked for a better situation to be recruited because he doesn’t need to be the man, and he comes into a situation where there are former champions who can help show him the way. Kyrie Irving And Anthony Davis. He doesn’t need to be the savior of a franchise… Knock on wood, but if he stays healthy, he’ll win Rookie of the Year.
Miller on the Denver Nuggets: “In terms of their chances of winning another championship, healthy and whole, I like the Nuggets’ chances because they have the best player on the planet in [Nikola] Jokic.”
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NBC Sports’ 2025-26 NBA season begins with the American Express NBA Tip-Off doubleheader on Tuesday, October 21.
In the first game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder will raise their championship banner and receive their championship rings just before hosting the Houston Rockets and Kevin Durantwho makes his Rockets debut against the franchise he spent the first nine seasons of his career with, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Mike Tirico (play by play), Reggie Miller (analyst), Jamal Crawford (analyst), and Zora Stephenson (reporter) will announce the game from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. A one-hour on-site studio show will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET with host Mary Taylor and analysts Carmelo Antoine And Vince Carter.
In the second game, Stéphane Curry, Jimmy Butlerand the Golden State Warriors travel to Los Angeles to face Luka Doncic and the Lakers in a Western Conference showdown at 10 p.m. ET. Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Grant Hill (analyst), and Ashley Shah Ahmadi (reporter) will receive the call from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Host Ahmed Farid and analyst Tracy McGrady will anchor the studio’s coverage on location.
Both games will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
This season, NBC Sports will feature up to 100 regular season NBA games – including five games per week during parts of the season – with consistent coverage on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights, as well as All-Star Weekend and the NBA Playoffs.
From October 27, Peacock NBA Monday will broadcast up to three NBA games nationwide on Monday nights throughout the regular season. A 30-minute in-studio program will lead into game coverage each Monday evening.
Following the American Express NBA announcement on Tuesday October 21, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will debut October 28 and feature doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. Most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be shown on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both games will be broadcast live nationwide on Peacock. A 30-minute in-studio program will lead to coverage each week on Peacock.
After Sunday Night Football and NFL playoff coverage ends in 2026, NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock on February 1, 2026. This year, Sunday Night Basketball will take a break on February 8 and 15, 2026 due to NBC Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LX, the NBA All-Star Game and the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. It will resume on February 22 and continue through April 5. Sunday evenings will occasionally feature doubleheaders. A one-hour on-site studio program will lead into game coverage each week on NBC and Peacock. Opening Show Will Feature Four-Time GRAMMY® Award-Winning Recording Artist Lenny Kravitz.
–NBC SPORTS–
