Key Highlights for the Return of NBA on NBC:
- Historic Doubleheader: Kick-off with Lakers vs. Knicks at 7 p.m. ET, followed by a Western Conference clash between the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Basketball Night in America: A brand-new, on-site pre-game show at 6 p.m. ET, hosted by Maria Taylor with HOFers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady, plus Caitlin Clark as a special contributor.
- Star Power Galore: Witness LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Jalen Brunson, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jamal Murray in action, with the 2026 NBA All-Star Game reserves announced live.
- Signature Production: Expect a Sunday Night Football-level broadcast experience, complete with an iconic show open featuring Lenny Kravitz and the return of broadcasting legend Bob Costas.
Sunday Night Basketball Returns in Style
The wait is over! Sunday Night Basketball, NBC Sports’ flagship NBA program, kicks off this Sunday, Feb. 1, with a thrilling doubleheader. First up, two iconic franchises – the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks – face off at Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City at 7 p.m. ET. Later, reigning champion and Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder visit the rising Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena in Denver at 9:30 p.m. ET. Both games will air on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo.
Sunday Night Basketball promises top-tier NBA action, showcasing the league’s brightest stars with NBC Sports’ signature storytelling. The show opens with a special performance by GRAMMY-winning artist Lenny Kravitz, marking a new era of NBA coverage on NBC.
Due to NBA commitments, Steph Curry could not attend the festival premiere of his short film The Baddest Speech Writer of All, but he shared:
“Thank you Sundance for opening up space for us to tell Clarence’s story. It’s needed right now, and I know that his life and his work will continue to impact so many people and continue to impact cultures. So thank you for this, and we’re going to share it with the world.”
Basketball Night in America Debuts
Sunday also sees the launch of Basketball Night in America, NBC Sports’ weekly on-site NBA studio show, at 6 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Hosted by Maria Taylor alongside Hall of Famers Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady, BNIA will broadcast from a different NBA arena each week. WNBA star Caitlin Clark joins as a special contributor, beginning with the Lakers-Knicks matchup.
NBC Sports legend Bob Costas returns for pregame coverage, bringing decades of NBA experience and familiarity with Madison Square Garden. The show will also feature Craig Melvin and Tom Llamas, with interviews by Mike Tirico.
The night’s opener highlights LeBron James, Luka Dončić, and the Lakers (28-17) visiting Jalen Brunson and the Knicks (28-18) from Madison Square Garden at 7 p.m. ET. Reggie Miller commented: “I’m honored to be on the debut call for Sunday Night Basketball, and what better way to kick it off than to have a good ole fashion East vs. West showdown between the Knicks and Lakers. Can’t wait to bring you all the action every Sunday along with the fabulous Mike Tirico and Hall of Famer-in-waiting Jamal Crawford.”
Dončić, a six-time All-Star, earned the most fan votes this season, while James, a 21-time All-Star, comes off a strong January averaging nearly 25 points per game. The Knicks are riding a three-game winning streak, with Brunson scoring 28 in the latest victory over Sacramento.
The Thunder-Nuggets game follows at 9:30 p.m. ET. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder, who hold the league’s best road record (17-5), while Jamal Murray has propelled the Nuggets during Nikola Jokić’s absence, averaging nearly 30 points and 8.8 assists in January. NBC Sports’ Noah Eagle, Hall of Famer Grant Hill, and Ashley ShahAhmadi will call the game, with Telemundo providing Spanish-language coverage.
Basketball Night in America precedes each game, produced by Adam Littlefield and directed by Jared Sumner, giving fans deeper access to the action and NBA storytelling.
