NBA on ESPN season tips off with superstar stacked opening – The 2025-26 NBA Season will deliver a hoops feast for Australian and New Zealand fans from the opening tip-off to the NBA Finals, and the new NBA year delivers a blockbuster opening live double-header with Luka Doncic, Steph Curry and league MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander featuring on Wednesday October 22.
The NBA season opens on Wednesday October 22 with a huge double header, tipping off with reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder and NBA Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander taking on the Houston Rockets live on ESPN at 10.30am AEDT.
The Thunder begin the defence of their NBA Championship against a Rockets team considered to be a strong challenger to Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.
Immediately following at 1pm AEDT, the Golden State Warriors led by star Steph Curry will face off against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers will be missing legend LeBron James through injury, but the season opener will provide the perfect opportunity for Lakers’ star Luka Doncic to stamp his mark on the Los Angeles lineup.
Doncic begins his first full season with the Lakers, after making a stunning mid-season switch from the Dallas Mavericks.
Australian NBA stars Josh Giddey (Chicago) and Dyson Daniels (Atlanta) will spearhead a strong contingent of local talent taking on the best the basketball world has to offer.
Daniels and the Hawks will get an early chance to test themselves against the benchmark in the league, as Atlanta face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, live Sunday at 10.30am AEDT on ESPN.
The new season is the start of a landmark long-term 11-year deal between ESPN and the NBA that secures ESPN as ‘Your Home for Hoops’ and the place for the most comprehensive offering of NBA in the region.
ESPN will air at least 240 regular season NBA games and provide an enhanced game package for the First and Second Round of the NBA Playoffs, all NBA Conference Finals and NBA Finals games.
ESPN’s coverage will again include all the action from the NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Draft and deliver the most comprehensive NBA news and analysis.
The 2025-26 will prove fascinating as the Thunder look to continue their dominance and defend their NBA crown.
There is a host of challengers emerging, but with several stars such as Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James commencing the new NBA season on the injured list, it presents opportunity for new players and new teams to make their run at the NBA crown.
ESPN is THE unrivalled destination for basketball fans in the market. As ‘Your Home for Hoops’, it delivers the most comprehensive basketball rights available in Australia and New Zealand, including the NBA, WNBA, NBL, WNBL, NCAA and FIBA Basketball.
NBA Opening on ESPN
Wednesday October 22
10.30am AEDT, Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets, ESPN
1pm AEDT, Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN
Thursday October 23
10am AEDT, New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN
12.30pm AEDT, Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs, ESPN
Friday October 24
10.30am AEDT, Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN2
1pm AEST, Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets, ESPN2
Sunday October 26
10.30am AEDT, Atlanta Hawks vs Oklahoma City Thunder, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available on Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sport, Fetch TV and Sky NZ
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
NBA on ESPN season tips off with superstar stacked opening
