2025-26 NBA schedule: Which teams have most nationally televised games, and some of the reasoning behind it
The NBA released the 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Thursday, highlighting when all the top matchups will take place. Opening night is still over two months away on Oct. 21, but now fans will be able to theorize over how well -- or how poorly -- their team will do based on when the games are scheduled. Aside from the excitement surrounding opening night matchups, such as the Thunder hosting the Rockets and the Lakers playing the Warriors, or the Christmas Day slate, a key factor that always draws attention is which teams will be featured the most on national television.
This season is no different from the past, where the teams at the top of that list are easy to explain. But unlike last year, there isn't a single team with the most games on television, perhaps a sign that fans want to see a variety on a nightly basis rather than the same four or five squads. However, there are four teams that will be featured more than the rest. Where each team ranks can actually tell us a lot about how the league views certain franchises or players, specifically which teams seem to be on the rise, and which teams are falling out of the national spotlight. You can also tell how offseason moves dictate which teams will get the most airtime, and the same goes for injuries, too.
With that being said, let's take a look at where all 30 teams rank in nationally televised games for the 2024-25 season and give some insight on why they are where they are.
30. Washington WizardsNumber of nationally televised games: 2
The Wizards finished with the second-worst record last season, haven't been to the playoffs since 2021, and despite several high-draft picks on their team, have yet to take forward steps in a rebuild. It's no surprise they are tied at the bottom of this list.
29. Utah JazzNumber of nationally televised games: 2
The Jazz, like the Wizards and the other three teams with just two games on national television, are in the midst of a rebuild, and until that changes, they will continue to find themselves near the bottom of this list. Landing the No. 1 pick next summer would certainly change that.
28. Toronto RaptorsNumber of nationally televised games: 2
Toronto was on the brink of making the play-in round a season ago, and added Brandon Ingram to the roster, but that didn't positively impact their standing on this list. If Ingram makes a big splash in Toronto and gels well with Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and the rest of that young core, they could find themselves higher on this list next season.
27. Brooklyn NetsNumber of nationally televised games: 2
The Nets are leaning all the way into a rebuild, so much so that they've been playing hardball with Cam Thomas on offering a contract extension. The Nets are going to be an unfinished project next season, so it'll be a while before they find their way on national television enough to count on more than one hand.
26. New Orleans PelicansNumber of nationally televised games: 2
You would think having Zion Williamson would carry enough weight to get the Pelicans not lumped in with the bottom-of-the-barrel teams. But uncertainty around his long-term future and trading CJ McCollum clearly meant the league didn't view them as a strong enough team to put on the national stage more than once.
25. Charlotte HornetsNumber of nationally televised games: 3
Depending on LaMelo Ball's health and how quickly Kon Knueppel can develop in his rookie season, this may be one of those situations where the league wishes it had put this team on national television more. But Ball's health can never be counted on, and if he's out, the Hornets are not a team you want to be watching.
24. Chicago BullsNumber of nationally televised games: 3
It is a shame that the team in the third largest media market in the country cannot muster more national attention than this. But that's been the reality for the Bulls going on several years now. Satisfied with mediocrity and in no rush to get out of that spot. Perhaps Coby White and Matas Buzelis can inject some life back into this once storied franchise, but until then, it's only a trio of national games for Chicago.
23. Miami HeatNumber of nationally televised games: 5
Even in a good year, the Heat never generate a ton of attention, aside from when LeBron James resided in South Beach. A Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro combo clearly wasn't enough to get higher on this list, and frankly, that's not surprising given the Heat always underwhelm in the regular season, even in the years they make surprise playoff runs.
22. Portland Trail BlazersNumber of nationally televised games: 8
It is a tad surprising to see Portland get eight games, especially over a Miami team that actually made the playoffs last year. Damian Lillard's return is a touching story, but he won't be suiting up until at least October 2026. While they have some exciting young pieces, I would've never guessed the league would throw them this many nationally televised games.
21. Sacramento KingsNumber of nationally televised games: 9
The funny thing to think about here is knowing the Bulls would've had this many nationally televised games had they still had DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The Kings have become the West Coast Bulls in the last year, and as such, they've taken their spot on the national stage, as small as that is.
20. Phoenix SunsNumber of nationally televised games: 9
How the mighty have fallen. Turns out not having Kevin Durant on the team would completely deplete Phoenix's national stature, and this is proof. A tandem of Devin Booker and Jalen Green is going to be intriguing to watch, but clearly, the league didn't think it was worthy enough of more national spotlight.
19. Indiana PacersNumber of nationally televised games: 9
It's a shame because had it not been for Tyrese Haliburton suffering a torn Achilles during the NBA Finals, the Pacers would be far higher on this list. Unfortunately, they're getting treated as if they never had one of the most memorable NBA Finals runs in league history. Such is life when injuries completely derail your future.
18. Memphis GrizzliesNumber of nationally televised games: 10
This seems like a fair spot for the Grizzlies, who have ebbed and flowed in the spotlight over the last couple of years. Ja Morant is as box office as they come in terms of watching him play, but injuries have held him back in each of the last two seasons. Memphis as a whole has struggled to stay healthy, and it looks like the league is hedging if it happens again.
17. Atlanta HawksNumber of nationally televised games: 13
The Hawks figure to be one of the most interesting teams in the East next season. They've completely retooled to surround Trae Young with even more talent, bringing in Kristaps Porziņģis and adding Nickeil Alexander-Walker to what was an already promising young core.
16. Orlando MagicNumber of nationally televised games: 14
Now we're fully getting into the territory of "your offseason hard work paid off." The Magic went all in to get Desmond Bane -- literally, they traded four first-round picks for him -- and hope his shooting and playmaking will put Orlando over the edge to make a run like the Pacers did last season. The league clearly sees the potential with the Magic and rewarded them as such.
15. Philadelphia 76ersNumber of nationally televised games: 14
This feels fair given how much the Sixers have been scheduled in the past on national television only for every important player on the team to suffer season-ending injuries. If the Sixers are healthy, some of their late-season games could be flexed into national games. However, if they're hit with the injury bug again, 14 games will be plenty.
14. Detroit PistonsNumber of nationally televised games: 16
Detroit basketball is back! Well, almost...maybe. The Pistons secured a top-6 playoff spot last season and could build upon that this season with Jaden Ivey back healthy. It's surprising to see the league give the Pistons this many games on the national stage, but it's certainly earned. Detroit could be a surprise team to watch next season, and the league is certainly betting on that happening.
13. Milwaukee BucksNumber of nationally televised games: 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo's name is doing all the heavy lifting here. With Damian Lillard injured and no longer in Milwaukee, the Bucks aren't the ticket they once were, and while they added Myles Turner, this just isn't a team that has the same draw as it once did. Antetokounmpo, being one of the biggest stars in the league, is quite literally the only reason the Bucks will be featured this many times, and that's more than fair.
12. Los Angeles ClippersNumber of nationally televised games: 21
The Clippers could either be a team that dominates this season with a realistic shot at winning a title, or Kawhi Leonard struggles to stay healthy, Chris Paul becomes a non-factor and James Harden will be relied upon to carry this team to a play-in spot. There really feels like no in between here. But all those names warrant a good chunk of games, even if we have to watch the injury report leading up to the opening tip every time they're on television.
11. San Antonio SpursNumber of nationally televised games: 22
In a couple of years, this will seem like an incredibly low amount of games to have Victor Wembanyama, but for right now, this is fair. It's not just Wemby that's the draw; they've got the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, Dylan Harper, to make this team intriguing, as well as De'Aaron Fox and the reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
10. Dallas MavericksNumber of nationally televised games: 23
Landing the No. 1 pick with the right to draft Cooper Flagg saved the Mavericks in more ways than one, and this is certainly one of the main ones. Had Dallas stayed at the No. 11 spot in the draft, they'd no doubt be far lower on this list, but having Flagg, mixed with Anthony Davis and Megan Thee Stallion's boyfriend (Klay Thompson), means that we'll be getting a hefty dose of the Mavericks next season.
9. Cleveland CavaliersNumber of nationally televised games: 24
It's surprising that the Cavs aren't a bit higher on this list, given they finished with the best record in the East a season ago. But losing in the second round may have hurt their prestige, that, and the fact that they really can't compete with the star power ahead of them on this list.
8. Boston CelticsNumber of nationally televised games: 25
Here's another team that would've gotten even more games had Jayson Tatum not suffered an Achilles tear in the playoffs. This is still a high number of games, and that's in part due to Boston having one of the largest fanbases in the league, and the fact that, despite Tatum's absence, this is still a team that could finish high in a weak Eastern Conference.
7. Denver NuggetsNumber of nationally televised games: 26
Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are probably the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder next season, so it's only right they're featured high on this list. You could argue they should be higher, honestly, because they'll likely finish higher than almost all these teams but one next season.
6. Houston RocketsNumber of nationally televised games: 28
The power of having Kevin Durant on your team. The Suns felt that power the last couple of seasons, but now that he's on the Rockets, Houston is the main attraction. A lot of people will be introduced to Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun for the first time next season, and for that, we thank the league.
5. Minnesota TimberwolvesNumber of nationally televised games: 28
You can't ignore back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances, even if the Timberwolves did very little this summer to ensure they could get back there for a third consecutive time. But Anthony Edwards is one of the future faces of the league, and having him on national television as much as possible is important for the league.
4. New York KnicksNumber of nationally televised games: 34
It's been a long time since the Knicks have had this much buzz around them entering a season. Even last year, not many people predicted that they'd get to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. They enter next season with sky-high expectations and a legitimate shot at getting to the NBA Finals.
3. Oklahoma City ThunderNumber of nationally televised games: 34
It's no surprise the Thunder are tied for having the most nationally televised games. These are the defending champions with the reigning MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a core of young players who are just as exciting as they are dominant to watch and play against. It's nice to see that the league gave OKC this much attention despite being a smaller market.
2. Golden State WarriorsNumber of nationally televised games: 34
Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green. That's why the Warriors are this high. As long as Curry is on the Warriors, they will continue to be on television more than most teams, and that's understandable. Who wouldn't want to watch the greatest shooter in NBA history 34 times on national television?
1. Los Angeles LakersNumber of nationally televised games: 34
The Lakers are quite literally the only team immune to the "if bad, then fewer games" theory. So, of course, when they're good, they're going to have a ton of games on television. There's no stopping the Lakers brand, regardless of how good or bad they are, and with Luka Dončić now the star of the show, you can bet that they'll be tied for the most nationally televised games for many more seasons to come.
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