What Happened to ESPN NBA Coverage?

ESPN's relationship with the NBA has been a cornerstone of its programming for decades, evolving significantly over time. The network first televised NBA games from 1982 to 1984, returning for a continuous run since the 2002-03 season. This long-standing partnership saw ESPN, often in conjunction with ABC, become the exclusive home for marquee events like the NBA Finals and a substantial portion of the regular season and playoffs. The previous nine-year, $24 billion media rights deal with ESPN/ABC and TNT, which began in the 2016-17 season, was set to expire after the 2024-25 season, prompting extensive negotiations for the league's future broadcast landscape.

A pivotal turning point occurred on July 24, 2024, when the NBA announced landmark 11-year media rights agreements, collectively valued at $76-77 billion, with The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon Prime Video. This new structure, commencing with the 2025-26 season and running through 2035-36, marked a significant shift, notably excluding long-time partner TNT (Warner Bros. Discovery) from domestic live game rights. ESPN, as a primary partner, secured a package worth an estimated $2.6 billion annually, ensuring it remains the exclusive home of the NBA Finals, all five Christmas Day matchups, and a conference final series in ten of the eleven years of the contract.

Under the new deal, ESPN and ABC will broadcast 80 regular-season games per season (20 on ABC, 60 on ESPN), primarily on Wednesday nights and select Fridays, as well as Saturday and Sunday showcases. A major consequence of this restructuring was the fate of the beloved "Inside the NBA" studio show. Following a legal settlement between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA, ESPN announced in November 2024 that it would license "Inside the NBA," bringing the iconic quartet of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal to ESPN and ABC's coverage. This move, effective for the 2025-26 season, ensures the show's continuation and integrates it into ESPN's pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage for high-profile events, including the NBA Finals.

As of June 2026, ESPN's NBA coverage is fully operational under the new agreement. The lead broadcast team for ESPN/ABC features Mike Breen on play-by-play, with Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler as analysts, and Lisa Salters reporting from the sideline. Doris Burke, who made history as the first woman to call the NBA Finals on television in 2024 and 2025, continues to be a prominent analyst. Malika Andrews remains the host of "NBA Countdown" and "NBA Today." Furthermore, ESPN's content is now accessible via its flagship direct-to-consumer streaming platform, which launched in Fall 2025, and Disney+ offers international NBA and WNBA games in select markets, reflecting Disney's broader strategy to navigate the global digital transition.

The current status sees ESPN firmly entrenched as a key player in NBA broadcasting, albeit within a more fragmented media landscape. While fans gain increased exposure to games across multiple platforms, they also face the challenge of navigating various streaming services to access all national broadcasts. ESPN's renewed commitment, coupled with the acquisition of "Inside the NBA," positions it to continue delivering comprehensive and high-quality basketball content for the foreseeable future.