The NBA on NBC – A Legendary History
As the NBA returns to NBC this October, here is a look back at the iconic era that first defined their partnership.
October 02, 2025
The history of the NBA on NBC goes back more than 70 years to a time when basketball itself was still in its infancy. In the decades since, NBCUniversal and the NBA have evolved and innovated together, producing some of the most exciting and era-defining moments in any sport. Here's a look back at their iconic partnership.
The first NBA game on NBC in 1954
Pro basketball was still in its infancy when NBC aired its first NBA game on October 30, 1954. It was a pioneering moment in the sport, as well as a pioneering era for NBC broadcasting. The network had begun its first compatible color broadcasts in 1953, preceding other networks by nine years. During this era, NBC presented its first sports event in color, the first live event from overseas, and the first-ever World Series in color.
NBC Sports broadcasting innovations pushed the envelope from the start, such as when legendary NBC Sports director Harry Coyles introduced the iconic pitcher-batter shot during the 1955 MLB All-Star game. The angle allows fans at home to follow the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way into the catcher's mitt, and it is considered one of televised sports' greatest innovations.
NBC Sports takes the NBA to the next level
NBC Sports brought that same innovative approach to an era that saw NBA broadcasting grow from modest beginnings to a golden age. The league's profile was already on the rise in the 1980s, driven by superstar rivalries between the likes of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, plus sneakers and merchandise sales in the latter half of the decade. NBC Sports was an ideal partner to help with the assist, but no one at the time imagined just how much the league was about to explode in popularity.
NBC’s NBA era began with a dream matchup: the 1991 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. This series marked Michael Jordan’s first championship and the passing of the torch from Magic Johnson’s Lakers to Jordan's Bulls.
Throughout the 1990s, NBC was the backdrop for six Bulls championships (1991–1993, 1996–1998). The network helped propel Jordan’s fame and the NBA's growth, turning the NBA Finals and playoff games into must-watch events. Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, featuring Jordan’s iconic "Last Shot" against Utah, drew over 35 million viewers. To this day, it remains one of the highest-rated basketball broadcasts in history. NBC also broadcast the original "Dream Team" during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, which featured 11 Hall of Famers and was another catalyst for the game’s explosion in popularity.
Michael Jordan's combined athleticism, showmanship, and a seemingly total contempt for gravity drew fans to the sport like never before, and NBC Sports was there to capture every jaw-dropping moment of the era. Other superstars in the sport like Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Shaquille O'Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon hit their prime during the NBC era. Thanks in part to the cinematic excitement of NBC telecasts bringing the game to tens of millions of new fans, they became worldwide personalities, cultural icons – superstars, in a word. And some of those superstars are returning to NBC this fall, like Reggie Miller as part of the broadcast team and Michael Jordan himself as a special contributor.
NBCUniversal put its own airborne skills to use to fuel the NBA's rise, with broadcast promos hitting all of the "must-see TV" properties of the era, including Seinfeld, ER, Cheers, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and the Olympics. That cross-property synergy helped drive fandom and defined a new era of big event sports.
With the network's commitment to innovation and high production values, NBA on NBC married storytelling and showmanship with a broadcast flair that captivated a generation. The games weren’t the only selling point. The NBA on NBC also drew in fans with the help of narrative-rich studio segments from Bob Costas, dramatic lead-in packages that captured the high stakes of the games, Marv Albert's iconic "Yes!" calls, iconic production elements like John Tesh's "Roundball Rock," and a production team determined to make basketball feel cinematic. Plus, NBA All-Star Weekend was a major media spectacle with the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Shootout, and celebrity involvement. It was all part of a larger broadcasting strategy that made it one of the highest-rated eras in basketball.
NBA returns to NBC this fall and debuts on Peacock
For the first time in more than two decades, the NBA is back on NBC – and making its Peacock debut – with 100 regular-season games across three marquee nights of the week: Sunday Night Basketball, beginning Feb. 1, 2026; Peacock NBA Monday, debuting Oct. 27; and Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, premiering Oct. 28. NBC Sports' 2025-26 NBA slate begins with an NBA Tip-Off doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and also features the NBA Mexico City Game 2025, the first-ever quadruple header on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, All-Star Weekend, and comprehensive playoff coverage.
All NBA games presented by NBC Sports will stream live on Peacock. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language broadcast network, will present 10 Sunday Night Basketball games as well as the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15, 2026.
NBC Sports and Peacock coverage of the 2025-26 NBA season will be unprecedented in many ways. With innovative new viewing experiences, emerging talent, and cutting-edge production approaches, NBCUniversal is poised to launch a new chapter in basketball storytelling. As NBC approaches its 100th Anniversary, its commitment to innovation and audience engagement remains as strong as ever.
NBCUniversal and NBA
In July 2024, NBCUniversal and the NBA announced an 11-year agreement to present NBA and WNBA regular-season and playoff basketball games across numerous platforms beginning with the 2025-26 season. For more information on the agreement, click here.
