- NBA Saturday Night on ABC Debuts Jan. 23: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James vs. Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose Tips Off New Blockbuster Franchise
- ABC, ESPN Combine to Televise All Five Christmas Day Games, Including NBA Finals Rematch – Defending NBA Champion Warriors vs. Cavaliers on ABC
- ESPN’s Star-studded Opening Week to Include MVP Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Tim Duncan & Reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins in Action
ABC and ESPN will combine to televise 90 games during the 2015-16 NBA regular-season, all of which are either exclusive or full-national telecasts. Beginning January 23 at 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN on ABC will launch its new, prime-time franchise, NBA Saturday Night on ABC, with a blockbuster matchup – the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose. The eight-game NBA Saturday Night on ABC franchise will feature star-studded, marquee games with multiple appearances by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. All games are also available on ESPN Deportes. More NBA on ABC highlights, including the full NBA Sunday Showcase schedule, are below.
NBA Saturday Night on ABC
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| Sat, Jan. 23 | 8:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Jan. 30 | 8:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Feb. 20 | 8:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Feb. 27 | 8:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Mar. 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Mar. 12 | 8:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Mar. 19 | 8:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Apr. 9 | 8:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
NBA Christmas Day on ABC, ESPN
The NBA on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, will air across ABC and ESPN. This year’s five-game slate, featuring 13 hours of continuous coverage, is highlighted by the much-anticipated NBA Finals rematch – the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry host the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James – at 5 p.m. exclusively on ABC. The ABC doubleheader will start at 2:30 p.m. with the Oklahoma City Thunder – led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – hosting the Chicago Bulls – led by Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. NBA Countdown will precede the doubleheader on ABC at 2 p.m.
The Christmas Day schedule will begin on ESPN at 12 p.m. (noon) when the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade host the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis. ESPN will then televise a prime-time doubleheader featuring two rivalry contests. At 8 p.m., the Houston Rockets and James Harden will host the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan. At 10:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant square off with the cross-town rivals Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul. All Christmas Day games are also available on ESPN Deportes.
NBA on Christmas Day – 13 consecutive hours of coverage
| Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| 12 p.m. (noon) | New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 2 p.m. | NBA Countdown | ABC |
| 2:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| 5 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| 8 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
ESPN’s star-studded season-opening coverage
ESPN tips off its 2015-16 NBA regular-season coverage with a star-studded opening week of marquee matchups, beginning with a doubleheader Wednesday, Oct. 28. First, the Oklahoma City Thunder – led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – will host the San Antonio Spurs – led by Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge – at 8 p.m. The nightcap highlights the top two 2015 NBA Draft picks – the Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and D’Angelo Russell – at 10:30 p.m. NBA Countdown will precede the doubleheader at 7 p.m.
Coverage continues on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. when the Miami Heat visit the Cleveland Cavaliers as LeBron James faces his former team, led by Dwyane Wade, in Cleveland’s home-opener. At 9:30 p.m., the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry visit the Houston Rockets and James Harden in a Western Conference Finals rematch.
NBA on ABC highlights
- Six appearances by the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James (16 total across ABC and ESPN);
- Five appearances each by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and reigning 2014-15 Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry, the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose (against Cleveland on debut of NBA Saturday Night on ABC), and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant;
- Defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors run through the Western Conference gauntlet on NBA Saturday Night on ABC: at Los Angeles Clippers Feb. 20, at Oklahoma City Thunder Feb. 27 and at San Antonio Spurs Mar. 19;
- Multiple appearances each by the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan, the Houston Rockets and James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul;
- Eastern Conference showdown book-ends NBA Saturday Night on ABC schedule – Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, Sat, Jan. 23 and Sat, Apr. 9;
- Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant on NBA Sunday Showcase, Feb. 21;
- LeBron James reignites rivalry with the San Antonio Spurs on Jan. 30 edition of NBA Saturday Night on ABC.
NBA Sunday Showcase
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| Sun, Jan. 31 | 3:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sun, Feb. 7 | 2 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Miami Heat | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sun, Feb. 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder | ABC, ESPN Deportes |
| Sun, Mar. 6 | 3:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers | ABC |
| Sun, Mar. 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers | ABC |
| Sun, Apr. 3 | 3:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets | ABC |
NBA on ESPN highlights
- 10 appearances each by the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry, the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Houston Rockets and James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul, and the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant;
- Nine appearances each by the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant and the San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge (including Wed, Oct. 28 – ESPN’s opening night);
- Eight appearances each by the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis, and the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade;
- ESPN’s first night of NBA coverage highlighted by top two 2015 NBA Draft picks head-to-head: Minnesota Timberwolves and Karl-Anthony Towns visit the Los Angeles Lakers and D’Angelo Russell;
- Los Angeles Clippers and DeAndre Jordan visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wed, Nov. 11;
- Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James host the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade Fri, Oct. 30, as James faces his former teammate Wade during ESPN’s opening week of coverage;
- Special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day telecast, Mon, Jan. 18 – New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies;
- Several cross-town and intrastate rivalry games: Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors on Wed, Nov. 4; Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks on Fri, Dec. 4; San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets on Christmas Day; Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day; Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs on Wed, Jan. 27; San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks on Fri, Feb. 5; Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks on Wed, Apr. 6;
- LeBron/Cavaliers vs. Kobe/Lakers on Wed, Feb. 10.
NBA on ESPN – (regular windows on Wednesdays & Fridays)
| Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| Wed, Oct. 28 | 8 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Oct. 30 | 7 p.m. | Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Nov. 4 | 8 p.m. | New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Nov. 6 | 8 p.m. | Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Sacramento Kings | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Nov. 11 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Nov. 18 | 8 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Nov. 20 | 8 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Dec. 4 | 7 p.m. | Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Dec. 9 | 7 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Dec. 11 | 7 p.m. | Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Dec. 16 | 8 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Dec. 18 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Dec. 25 | 12 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 8 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Houston Rockets | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Jan. 6 | 7 p.m. | New York Knicks at Miami Heat | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Jan. 8 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Jan. 13 | 8 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami Heat at Los Angeles Clippers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Mon, Jan. 18 | 2:30 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Wed, Jan. 20 | 8 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Chicago Bulls | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Jan. 22 | 8 p.m. | Miami Heat at Toronto Raptors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Jan. 27 | 8 p.m. | Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Feb. 3 | 8 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Washington Wizards | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Clippers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Feb. 5 | 7 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Sat, Feb. 6 | 9 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| Wed, Feb. 10 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Feb. 19 | 8 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston Celtics at Utah Jazz | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Sun, Feb. 21 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| Wed, Feb. 24 | 8 p.m. | Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Feb. 26 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Mar. 2 | 8 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Mar. 4 | 8 p.m. | Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Mar. 9 | 7 p.m. | Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Mon, Mar. 14 | 8 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | New Orleans Pelicans at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Mar. 16 | 7 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Mar. 23 | 8 p.m. | Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Fri, Apr. 1 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Apr. 6 | 7 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 9:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Wed, Apr. 13 | 8 p.m. | Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 10:30 p.m. | Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers | ESPN, WatchESPN |
In addition to the 90-game regular-season, ABC and ESPN will combine to televise up to 44 NBA Playoffs games, finishing with the exclusive presentation of the 2016 NBA Finals on ABC and including ESPN’s exclusive Eastern Conference Finals coverage. In addition, the NBA Countdown pre-game show will generally preview ABC and ESPN games or doubleheaders 30 minutes prior to game time.
All ESPN games will also be available on WatchESPN. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes will also have NBA game coverage throughout the season.
This will be the 14th consecutive season of the NBA on ESPN and ABC (since 2002-03 season). In October of 2014, the two entities announced a nine-year, multi-platform rights agreement, which goes into effect next season. It will secure that the longstanding relationship continues into 2025.
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Media contacts: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or [email protected] (@Ben_ESPN);
Gianina Thompson at 860-766-7022 or [email protected] (@Gianina_ESPN).
