Network TV aired 79 NBA games last season, taking primetime hours from sitcoms and dramas. How many games will it air this season?
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90
NBC and ABC will air 90 games this season, up 14% from 79 a year ago. NBC even cleared its entire Tuesday primetime schedule for basketball. But scripted shows have not vanished; the big four networks actually grew their scripted lineups this year, relying on shorter episodes and shared time slots.
The Knicks, Spurs, Lakers and 76ers each get 34 national TV dates this season, the most the NBA allows any team. The Nets, Bucks, Kings, Grizzlies and Pelicans get two. San Antonio is one of the league's smallest media markets and still draws New York's number of dates, having reached the 2026 Finals with Victor Wembanyama.
Network TV is airing 90 NBA games this season, up from 79. Scripted shows are fitting around it with shorter seasons.
Source: Deadline · checked Aug 2026