Category: Basketball

The Utah Jazz regular season schedule was released today. The Jazz did a great job with the reveal, with this amazing video featuring Thurl Bailey.

every fan base has challenges, but you don’t have to face them alone 💜

the @NBA schedule has arrived and we brought in Fandom Life Coach @bigTbailey to help fans across the league deal with their biggest fandom concerns 🤝#TakeNote | @SeatGeekpic.twitter.com/86t4Ylgl96

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) August 13, 2026

Here’s a look at the full schedule from the Jazz.

mark your 🗓️

the 26/27 schedule is here… YOU READY?
⁰#TakeNote | @SeatGeekpic.twitter.com/n2qQQRHmpn

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) August 13, 2026

Some quick notes of interest. The return of Walker Kessler is just three games into the season (10/25). It’ll be after their first game in Memphis (10/21) and their home opener against the Pelicans (10/23). The Jazz will have 6 national games: Four on NBC, one on ESPN, and one on Prime. The Prime game is probably the most interesting because it’s the first time Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa will face off. It’s also interesting because it’s the last scheduled national game of the regular season for the Jazz. It’s game 61, and by that time both Peterson and Dybantsa should be acclimated to the league. Personally, that’s the one I’m looking forward to most.

It’s an exciting day for Jazz fans as it’s the first step towards a new season. What are the games you are looking forward to most?

Bradley Beal has agreed to a two-year deal to return to the LA Clippers, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Beal’s deal is said to be worth $13.2 million and will have a player option for the second year.

The three-time All-Star played in just six games during his debut season in Los Angeles before suffering a season-ending left hip fracture and undergoing surgery in November 2025. He initially left a game against his former team, the Phoenix Suns, during the first half because of hip soreness.

Beal averaged just 8.2 points, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 rebounds in his six games played last season.

He's averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 assists and 4 rebounds per game through the first 14 years of his career.

Grading Bradley Beal signing

Beal will add a veteran presence to the Clippers’ locker room, which could prove beneficial for a fairly young roster.

The Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and he is likely to see significant time as the starting shooting guard, with Beal serving as the primary backup and mentor to Wagler.

Grade: B

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bradley Beal contract grade: Veteran guard returning to Clippers

Given how pricey these NBA teams are getting, they are typically owned by a group of people with someone serving as the de facto face.

When the Buss family owned the Lakers, Jeanie was front and center after her father’s passing. Mark Walter, during his brief time in charge, mainly took a backseat role and kept Jeanie as the public figure.

Now that Walter has sold the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, who will be the face of the pairing? In a recent article by Khobi Price in the California Post, the indication is that Iger will be more involved than Kushner.

But one thing that became apparent in the immediate aftermath of the pending sale: Iger will be the one most actively involved with the Lakers once the sale becomes official, a source told the California Post.

Even early on, it appears clear that Iger is the new face of Lakers ownership. He’s already demonstrated this by having this exclusive interview. This is in stark contrast to Walter, who never really spoke to the media or made meaningful statements on behalf of the team.

This is all still very fresh, but it’s likely that whenever a statement from ownership comes out, Iger will be the one doing the talking.

It’s important to understand the hierarchy, especially at the very top of an organization. If everyone knows that Iger is the face and voice of ownership, then it’s easier to know who people need to go to for direction.

Considering Iger and Kushner bought the team within 72 hours and don’t have plans for the future worked out yet, they probably haven’t figured out all the details either. Hopefully, as the dust settles on this transaction, the Lakers will come out better for it.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Kevin Durant is a future Hall of Famer himself, but upon hearing the news of Russell Westbrook's retirement, he called his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate "inspiring."

A day after Westbrook announced he's bidding adieu to basketball, Durant took to X on Thursday, Aug. 13 to write a heartfelt post to the point guard, who played 18 seasons in the NBA. The duo spent eight years together early in their NBA careers. They took Oklahoma City, which moved from Seattle the summer Westbrook joined the team, to the playoffs five times. They reached the Finals in the 2011-12 season, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

In his reflection, Durant gave insight into who Westbrook is as a player and person.

"A lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical," Durant said. "He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up."

Durant is a 16-time All-Star and won two championships after leaving the Thunder in 2016. Westbrook was named an All-Star nine times and became the NBA's triple-double king upon his own departure from Oklahoma City in 2019. They played together during the 2016 NBA All-Star Game when Westbrook was named MVP.

The Slim Reaper recalled how he and the former UCLA standout developed a friendship. He said they encouraged each other through the highs and lows of their careers and the everyday moments, "bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments," and concluded, "the whole thing, memorable!!"

Durant shared a story of when he asked Thunder assistant coach Maurice Cheeks if it's harder to work out before or after practice because he saw Westbrook coming in to train before. When he remembered Cheeks saying, "coming in before practice is probably harder," Durant took on the challenge that his point guard set the tone with, saying "since then, it’s been my routine."

Durant reflected on the exclusive nature of being an NBA player and the understanding he and Westbrook have for each other and the game. He expressed hope that his teammate will continue his legacy, calling his career "iconic."

"This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything," he said. "Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on … keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. ... much love and Congratulations on a iconic career."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant congratulates 'inspiring' Russell Westbrook on retirement

The Los Angeles Lakers’ complete 2026-27 schedule was released on Thursday, Aug. 13, and coach JJ Redick's team has a starting point for how it can remain a contender in the Western Conference.

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will lead the Lakers during a season that starts with eight of the first 10 games against Western Conference teams, including the two games each against the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat will be the two out-of-conference opponents during the early portion of the schedule.

The Lakers will play 14 back-to-back games this season, including at the start of November against the Raptors and the Heat in Los Angeles.

MORE: NBA national TV, streaming schedule for 2026-27 season: See the full slate

The Raptors have the potential to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, if the trade with the Clippers for Kawhi Leonard is finalized and made official. Miami will pose a challenge for the Lakers with the Heat fielding a lineup that includes Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The former MVP was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade back in June.

Doncic and the Lakers will be featured in 34 nationally televised games, which is tied for the most in the NBA. Of the 34 nationally televised games, 18 of those games will be played at home, which is also the most in the league.

The Lakers' longest road trip will take place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8, with a seven-game road trip that will include visits to Madison Square Garden to take on the defending NBA champion New York Knicks.

The Lakers will also take on Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics during the trip.

It will be just one of three times the Lakers will play the Spurs this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder also appear on the Lakers’ schedule just three times.

The Lakers also will serve as a host to several teams, having three five-game homestands during the season.

In total, the Lakers will also have three instances where they are playing five games during seven days on three different occasions, which is the most in the league.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers schedule: What to know for 2026-27 season

On Thursday, after a few days of gradual reveals, the NBA schedule came out in full, aside from the two to-be-determined games in December pending the results of the NBA Cup. The Knicks now know where and when they’ll be playing the other 29 teams that spent the entire offseason trying to figure out how to take down our NBA champion Knickerbockers.

Today I’m going to highlight individual games, stretches, and notable parts that you might miss glossing over the schedule, because let’s face it: a schedule where you play everyone multiple times doesn’t have much luster.

Ring Night – 10/20 vs. PHI

One of the several games we were already aware of, the single most anticipated regular season game maybe in franchise history, will also be used by the NBA to introduce the new-look Sixers and their 41-year-old shiny new toy, LeBron James.

He’s likely the reason they got the nod over the last team to beat the Knicks in the postseason with a returning All-NBA guard, but I’ve also just recently thought of the other reason: there are no guarantees that their vaunted starting five will be healthy for extended stretches of time with you know who in the middle. Opening Night is maybe the only time they can guarantee that.

Of course, the main course of the night for us will be the pregame festivities. Ariel Hukporti will be in town to get his ring, as will at least 12 of the 18 men who enjoyed the festivities in June (will Dillon Jones or Kevin McCullar Jr. return on two-ways?). Over/under 2.5 new banners in the rafters; call it now.

Holidays – 11/27 vs MIA, 12/25 vs SA, 12/31 @ PHX, 1/18 vs MIN, 3/17 vs SAC, 3/28 @ ORL

You’ll get to enjoy Knicks basketball on plenty of special occasions this year, starting with their first look at Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat on Black Friday and the already-revealed Christmas clash with the Spurs.

For the second straight year, the Knicks go out west on New Year’s Eve for a game that will likely end close to midnight over here in Phoenix at 9:00. You can probably guess why, but the Knicks haven’t hosted a game on NYE since 1968 against the Baltimore Bullets.

A 5 pm matchup with Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves on MLK Day, a St. Patty’s Day game against the Kings, and an Easter matinee in Orlando round out the holiday slate.

Longest Homestand – 5 games (Nov 21-29)

There’s only one homestand longer than four games for the Knicks, and it comes early, as the Knicks will play five consecutive games at the World’s Most Famous Arena to end November. It’ll start with a back-to-back against Portland and Indiana before two days off leading into a pair of NBA Cup games that’ll surround Thanksgiving. A Sunday night game against Atlanta will round it out

Longest Road Trip – 7 games* (Dec 1-21)

This is a really weird schedule. The Knicks go from a five-game homestand directly into a seven-game road trip. Then, after spending a week at home in late December surrounding the blockbuster Christmas matchup against the Spurs, they go out west for a six-game road trip.

That 7-game stretch is certainly something, but it also needs an asterisk due to the NBA Cup. As scheduled, the Knicks will play a back-to-back in Chicago and Milwaukee to start, before a 10-day gap. In that gap, the NBA Cup knockout round will commence. After it does, the Knicks will head to Miami on December 12 before ping-ponging around Houston, New Orleans, Washington, and Cleveland.

This could wind up being a five-game road trip, or could be a ridiculous 10-game stretch without any games in MSG depending on the context:

12/1: @ Chicago
12/2: @ Milwaukee
12/4 or 12/5: NBA Cup QF
12/8 or 12/9: NBA Cup SF
12/11: NBA Cup Final (Indy)
12/12: @ Miami
12/14: @ Houston
12/16: @ New Orleans
12/18: @ Washington
12/21: @ Cleveland

There is a guaranteed six-game road trip that begins nine days later for good measure. The Knicks head to Utah on December 30, spend New Year’s in Phoenix, look to repeat recent dominance in Denver to start 2027, and then play three consecutive 10 pm games in Portland, Golden State, and Sacramento. What a six-week stretch.

NBA Cup – 10/30 @ PHI, 11/13 @ IND, 11/25 vs CLE, 11/27 vs MIA

It’s only right that the reigning NBA Cup champions get drawn into maybe the hardest group possible. This is taking Group of Death to another level. If you’re wondering how this is possible, the NBA tries to “balance” groups by using last year’s standings, and because of how bad Indiana was in their gap year along with the mediocrity of both Philly and Miami, this is what you get.

We start off by facing the Sixers for the second time before October is over in MSG Philly Xfinity Mobile Arena, face Tyrese Haliburton and company for the first time since Tom Thibodeau was on the sideline two weeks later in Indy, and then head home for back-to-back Cup games around Thanksgiving against the Cavs and Giannis-led Miami Heat. It’s funny how the only one of these games on regular TV is an ECF rematch, just to tell you how much the league respects those Cavaliers now.

Vaunted Back-to-Backs

The Knicks are tied for the fewest road back-to-back games with five, according to NBA Today, so that’s nice. Still, there are 12 back-to-backs on the schedule, but the Knicks are fortunate to have a number of them stay within the confines of Madison Square Garden.

Here are some of the tougher ones on the schedule:

Oct 27-28th: vs. DET, @ CHI
Dec 30-31th: @ UTAH, @ PHX
Jan 13-14th: @ BOS, vs. MIA
Feb 3-4th: @ DET, vs. TOR

(There is also a possibility of a December 11-12th back-to-back from the NBA Cup Final and a trip to South Beach, not great).

Coffee Games

Good news: the NBA has once again spared us of the 11:00 games that they’re doing on weekdays for some ungodly reason.

Bad news: there’s still a bunch of late games.

Here’s a list of every game starting 9:30 pm EST or later:

Mon, Jan 4: @ Portland (10:00)
Wed, Jan 6: @ Golden State (10:00, ESPN)
Fri, Jan 8: @ Sacramento (10:00)
Sun, Feb 7: @ Oklahoma City (9:30, NBC)
Thu, Mar 4: @ Dallas (9:30, Prime Video)
Wed, Mar 10: @ Clippers (10:30)
Thu, Mar 11: @ Lakers (10:00, Prime Video)

Old Friends Returning To MSG

Ring Edition:

Ariel Hukporti (PHI): October 20th (NBC)
Jeremy Sochan (POR): November 21st
Trey Jemison III (TOR): January 20th
Mitchell Robinson (BOS): March 14th (ABC)

OAKAAK Edition:

Julius Randle (BKN): Nov 2, Dec 27
RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley (TOR): Jan 20, Feb 4
Mario Hezonja (CLE): Nov 11, Nov 25
Obi Toppin (IND): Nov 22, Apr 11
Jericho Sims (MIL): Nov 10, Feb 28
Trevor Keels, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr. (MIA): Nov 27, Jan 14
Donte DiVincenzo (MIN): Jan 18 (won’t play due to a torn Achilles)
Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC): Feb 25
Kristaps Porzingis (GS): Feb 13
Quentin Grimes (LAL): Jan 30
Precious Achiuwa (SAC): Mar 17
Taj Gibson (MEM): Mar 2

Notable Individual Games

Fri, Oct 23rd @ BOS (7:00, Prime Video): Mike Brown is required to playfully do the Hack-a-Mitch as soon as he walks on the court. His mentor would be proud.

Tues, Oct 27th vs. DET (8:00, NBC): Man, you really forget that the Pistons were the best team in the East all year last year, huh? I can’t imagine they’re going to win all these games by 30 again, right?

Fri, Oct 30th @ PHI (7:30, Prime Video): This is an NBA Cup game, but the more important thing to me is seeing if LeBron is enough to stop Knicks fans from invading. Who am I kidding? Sixers fans cried poor at $100 playoff tickets; they’re not spending $500 to go to this game.

Sun, Nov 22nd vs. IND (8:00, MSG): Did you know that neither Pacers/Knicks game in New York is nationally televised? That feels like an oversight. This will be Tyrese Haliburton’s first game at MSG since that Eastern Conference Finals matchup immortalized him as a villain. The other game at MSG will be a meaningless Game 82, most likely.

Sat, Jan 2nd @ DEN (5:00, MSG): Here’s your yearly reminder that the Knicks have outscored the Nuggets by a whopping 66 points the last two times they’ve played at “the toughest road atmosphere in basketball”

Thu, Jan 28th vs. ATL (7:00, Prime Video)
Sat, Jan 30th vs. LAL (8:30, ABC): This is being categorized as “Rivalry Week”. There are at least six teams I would name as bigger rivals than the Lakers (who we haven’t played a meaningful game against in 50 years) and the Hawks (who got embarrassed last April by their main antagonist in Washington now).

Wed, Feb 3rd @ DET (7:00, ESPN): This is the 2027 NBA Pioneers Classic, a now-annual event by the NBA to honor the memory of the first black players to integrate the league in 1950. The Bucks and Celtics played the inaugural edition last year with commemorative patches and pregame warmups. There’s also a trophy at stake if we want to keep collecting.

Sun, Mar 7th @ SA (7:30, NBC): Will the Spurs’ PA sound guy dare to play the goofy music after being walked down in their own building three times in a row last June?

Sat, Mar 20th vs. WAS (7:00, MSG): This is the only time the Wizards head to town this year, and there are a few questions here. AJ Dybantsa will be a treat to watch, for sure, but will we actually get to see Trae Young and Anthony Davis play? In a hyper-competitive East, it wouldn’t be shocking if they were shut down by now if the Wizards had some growing pains.

The Dallas Mavericks released their schedule for the 2026-2027 season on Thursday. As usual, there is no shortage of intriguing plot points to consider, and some interesting quirks that will surely gain the ire of Mavs’ fans. Below is a look at some key points to know about what is to come for Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Morez Johnson and the rest of the new-look Mavericks.

A daunting October

Straight out of the gate, the Mavericks will be tested. They open the season on the road against the Rockets, then travel to face the Pacers two nights later. They come home the next night to take on the Finals runner-up Spurs, then play the Heat in Miami two nights after that. That’s four games in six nights, three of which are on the road, including a back-to-back. The Mavs then round out the month at home against the Thunder and Houston once again.

The scares could certainly come in advance of Halloween this year, especially considering the new players and new head coach that will still be feeling their way. Simply put, this could have gone better for Dallas. That said, you never know how things will play out until you actually play. If Dallas can come in thinking they’re playing with house money, they can certainly steal a couple of these.

The longest road trip

The longest road trip of the season spans March 17 to March 24. If, however, you subscribe to the late Don Nelson’s theory, that trip actually runs to March 29, as the Mavs play five on the road, return home for one, then play two more on the road (Nelson once said a single stop home may as well just be another city on the road trip). During the five-game stretch, Dallas plays the Thunder, the Spurs, the Lakers, the Clippers and the Timberwolves. They stop at home on March 26 to play the Pelicans, then hit the road again for the Wizards and Bucks.

Playing seven of eight games on the road is brutal, but there is some solace to be had. The games against the Thunder and Spurs are reasonably short trips with no time zone shift. That is followed by two games in Los Angeles, which also takes some of the sting out, though those games are on consecutive nights.

A rundown of all road trips

Overall, the Mavericks’ travel plans break down as follows:

• Five-game road trip: 1x
• Four-game road trip: 1x
• Three-game road trip: 5x (one of these is broken up by the All-Star break)
• Two-game road trip: 5x
• The remainder of their road games are one-offs sandwiched between home games.

The worst of the bunch are at least limited to one occurrence each.

The final 15-game stretch

Finishing off the travel analysis, it should also be noted that 10 of the final 15 games will be on the road. This includes the five-game trip, as well as a three-game trip in the final four games of the season.

That’s a rough go anyway you cut it. If the team is sniffing the PlayIn or even the postseason at the beginning of March, they are likely going to have to fight hard to keep pace. This is a relatively young team that is going to be tested to close out the year, Playoff considerations or not.

The longest homestand

The longest homestands of the season are four games; it happens twice, but they remain elusive until early-February, with the first running from February 6 to February 11. The second four-game homestand spans March 9 to March 15, but that leads directly into the aforementioned five-game road trip.

The first of those homestands isn’t exactly a cake walk, as Dallas will face the Jazz (who will presumably be bringing their best this year) and the Spurs. The second appears a bit more favorable with games against the Grizzlies, Wizards, Pelicans and Hawks, so Dallas will have to take advantage before heading out on the road a lot thereafter.

A rundown of all homestands

Overall, the Mavericks’ home cooking breaks down as follows:

• Five-game homestand: 0x
• Four-game homestand: 2x
• Three-game homestand: 6x (one of these is broken up by the Emirates Cup)
• Two-game homestand: 4x
• The remainder of their home games are one-offs sandwiched between road games.

This doesn’t really give off the warm and fuzzy feelings you would hope for. Throughout the season, the Mavs don’t really get a nice solid stretch where they can be home and get a flow going on their own floor with their fans backing them. Hopefully this will prove to be a good forge for the young players in which they can build comradery and chemistry with each other.

Back-to-backs

By my count, the Mavericks will have 16 back-to-backs throughout the season. With everything else going on, it would have been nice to see this number at 13 or even 14, but here we are.

Back-to-backs are always tough, especially those that contribute to three games in four nights. For the Mavericks, it will be interesting to see how they manage player loads. Will some of the younger guys get the second night off as they acclimate to the NBA grind? Are these 16 instances the equivalent of 16 games Kyrie Irving simply won’t play as he makes his way back from injury? That’s a lot of games to miss a key starter and team leader.

Luka Doncic’s birthday present

The Lakers come to Dallas a single time during the season. That game is on February 28, which just so happens to be former Maverick Luka Doncic’s birthday. Conincidence?

7:00pm start times

If you look closely, you’ll notice that Maverick home games will be starting a bit earlier this season. For a long time, 7:30pm was commonplace, as consideration was given to getting fans in their seats for tipoff, despite local traffic at rush hour. This year, the Mavericks have 26 home games starting at 7:00pm. That constitutes every single home game that is not nationally televised, except two. Dallas plays the Nets at home at 6:30pm, and the Grizzlies at home at 7:30pm. Every other non-7:00pm game is nationally televised, on a holiday, or a weekend afternoon game.

Earlier start times may result in a thin crowd to start games. How much of a factor this will play, if any, is anyone’s guess. However, a packed, raucous crowd is better than not for a young home team that won’t string together much at home all year, so this time change may not be for the best.

Sound off in the comments section with your thoughts on all of this, and anything else you may have seen in the schedule.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Kendrick Perkins believes the Los Angeles Lakers should enter the 2026-27 season with championship expectations, even if he still has serious doubts about how the roster is built around Luka Dončić.

Discussing the Lakers after the release of their schedule, Perkins pointed to Dončić and an offense he expects to rank among the NBA’s best as reasons Los Angeles should remain dangerous.

“They still have one of the best offensive players in Luka Dončić,” Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Today. “They got enough offensive firepower to win games in the regular season.”

But Perkins still placed the Lakers behind Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver and Minnesota in the Western Conference hierarchy.

That relatively modest assessment follows much harsher criticism he previously directed at the franchise’s decision to build around Dončić and Austin Reaves.

“Luka and Austin Reaves are your franchise players,” Perkins said earlier this offseason on Perk Unplugged. “Two guys who are both defensive liabilities.”

Perkins went even further, suggesting playoff opponents could actively seek out Los Angeles because of those defensive weaknesses.

“It ain’t a team in the world, it ain’t a player in the world that’s afraid of Luka and Austin Reaves,” Perkins said. “When the playoffs come around, they’re gonna be looking to get to the seeding where they can actually look at them.”

That makes his latest “championship or bust” declaration less of an endorsement than a statement about the standard attached to the Lakers.

“The middle of the pack doesn’t mean nothing to the Laker fan base,” Perkins said. “It’s championship or bust.”

Oddsmakers appear more aligned with Perkins’ concerns than his optimism.

FanDuel lists Los Angeles at +5500 to win the 2027 NBA championship, behind 17 other teams. Oklahoma City leads the market at +230, followed by San Antonio at +280.

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That is a sizable disconnect for a franchise beginning an era centered squarely around Dončić.

The Lakers have continued searching for reinforcements, including being linked to former Warriors star Klay Thompson, but questions remain about whether the current group has enough defense and depth to survive four playoff rounds.

Dončić, however, is setting a much higher bar.

Following the Lakers’ $12.5 billion sale to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, he wrote that he was “excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA.”

Perkins’ position is therefore a complicated one: he has questioned whether the Lakers built the right team around their superstar while insisting the franchise cannot lower its expectations.

For now, Vegas agrees with his skepticism more than his championship standard.

In the second half of their careers, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant had their differences, but have never lost their respect for one another.

On Thursday morning, Durant revealed what it was like playing beside Westbrook for eight seasons (2008-2016), as he was left “inspired.”

Durant shared a story on X detailing his time as teammates with Westbrook, where he asked former Oklahoma City Coach, Maurice “Mo” Cheeks what’s harder: “workout after practice or before??”

Durant asked the question because he would always find Westbrook finishing up his workouts in the morning.

“Mo like, ‘Coming in before practice is probably harder,” Durant wrote. “Since then, it’s been my routine… a lot of people looked at the emotions on the court, and though Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical.”

Durant went on to write that Westbrook would always lead by example, leaving everything out there, while experiencing true freedom.

“I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, just showed up.” Durant wrote. “For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent, and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent.”

When Westbrook and Durant were teammates in Oklahoma City, the two were on the brink of becoming one of the greatest duos in basketball, as they made the Western Conference Finals five times, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 with James Harden.

The trio of Westbrook, Durant, and Harden ultimately ended up losing in the 2012 NBA Finals to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Harden would leave the two behind after he was traded to the Rockets.

Durant became the league’s MVP in 2014, and would go to the Western Conference Finals with Westbrook two more times in 2013 and 2017, when they were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors.

Durant reached free agency that offseason and would end up signing with the Warriors.

This sparked a rivalry on the court that would last between the two, while the Warriors would become the team to become the league’s juggernaut.

Durant and the Warriors would go on to win two NBA titles [2017, 2018], where he was crowned Finals MVP in both series, while Westbrook would win MVP in 2017.

In his post, Durant hinted at wishing he had handled his departure from Oklahoma City by saying, “Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent, and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent.”

Durant ended the post by reminiscing about their time together as teammates and went on to send his love to Westbrook and his family and congratulate him on an “Iconic career.”

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The Lakers are set to begin their first season without LeBron James since the 2017-2018 season, and are ready to fully embrace the Luka Doncic era. Clearly, the NBA still sees plenty of value with Los Angeles to be shown in the national spotlight quite often.

During the NBA’s schedule release on Thursday afternoon, it was revealed that Los Angeles will have 34 nationally televised games, tying them for the most in the NBA. Three other teams, the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, and the Philadelphia 76ers, each appear 34 times as well.

Ten of the Lakers’ nationally televised games will be broadcasted on NBC, 10 on Prime Video, nine on ESPN, and five on ABC.

The Lakers’ season will begin on October 21, on ESPN, when they host the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. The team will have two more nationally televised games the following week against the Portland Trail Blazers on Peacock, on October 27, and the Warriors again on October 30, on Prime Video.

James will be making his return to Los Angeles in a family affair on Christmas Day, when the team is set to host the Philadelphia 76ers, during the 2:00 p.m. slate of the day. Not only will it be the first time James is facing the Lakers, but also the first time he competes against his son Bronny.

The two teams will face each other again when Los Angeles travels to Philadelphia on March 4 and will play at 4:00 p.m.

Both of their matchups against the NBA Champion New York Knicks will come after Christmas as the team will travel out to Madison Square Garden on January 30, which will be aired on ABC.

Their second matchup against them will come nearly a month after the NBA trade deadline, on March 11, aired on Prime Video.

Two of their three matchups against the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs will be on the road when they play them on November 27, aired on Prime Video at 6:30 p.m., and on February 6, at 5:30 p.m. on ABC. Their lone home game against them will be on Sunday, April 4 at 7 p.m., and will be aired on Telemundo, NBC, and Peacock.

Their first matchup against the Boston Celtics will take place on the road on January 7 at 7:00 p.m. and will be aired on Prime Video. Boston will come to town nearly a month later on February 2, at 5:00 p.m., aired on NBC and Peacock.

That rivalry, regardless of team status, is sure to deliver ratings for the NBA.

The NBA released the full schedule for the 2026-27 season Thursday, Aug. 13 with nearly 240 games slated to be broadcast on national television networks or streaming platforms: ABC, NBC, ESPN, NBCSN, Peacock and Amazon Prime Video.

The defending champion New York Knicks, the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers featuring LeBron James will each have 34 national broadcasts – the maximum allowed by the league.

Some teams you won't see much on the big stage include the New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks, who each will make only two appearances on a national broadcast.

The regular season begins on Tuesday, Oct. 20 with a triple-header on NBC and Peacock. Three games will be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving; while Christmas Day, which falls on a Friday, will have its annual five-game showcase. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18 features a four-game slate, while quadruple-headers are also scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 30; Monday, Feb. 15; Sunday, Feb. 28; Sunday, March 7; and Sunday, March 14.

OPINION: 10 NBA matchups we can't wait to watch in 2026-27

NBA OPENING WEEK: Ranking all the national TV games from worst to first

RANKING 2026 CHRISTMAS SLATE: Where does LeBron vs. Bronny James land?

NBA TV and streaming schedule for 2026-27 season

Here are all the NBA games scheduled to be broadcast on national TV networks or streaming platforms in the 2026-27 season (All times Eastern):

Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Boston at Detroit, 3 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Philadelphia at New York, 7 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Oklahoma City at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Oct. 21 — Minnesota at Miami, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Oct. 21 — Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 22 — Cleveland at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Oct. 22 — Denver at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Oct. 23 — New York at Boston, 7 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Oct. 23 — Houston at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Oct. 26 — Golden State at Denver, 10 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Oct. 27 — Detroit at New York, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Oct. 27 — Portland at L.A. Lakers, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Oct. 28 — Philadelphia at Indiana, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Oct. 28 — Oklahoma City at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Oct. 30 — New York at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Oct. 30 — L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 10 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Nov. 2 — Oklahoma City at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Wednesday, Nov. 4 — Philadelphia at Detroit, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 4 — Dallas at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Nov. 6 — Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Nov. 6 — Portland at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Nov. 9 — Washington at Detroit, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Nov. 10 — Boston at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Nov. 10 — Oklahoma City at Portland, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Cleveland at New York, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 11 — Golden State at Houston, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Nov. 13 — New York at Indiana, 7 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Nov. 13 — Golden State at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Nov. 16 — Orlando at Boston, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Nov. 17 — Detroit at San Antonio, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Nov. 17 — Utah at L.A. Clippers, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Nov. 18 — Milwaukee at Miami, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 18 — Golden State at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Nov. 20 — Toronto at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Nov. 20 — Houston at Denver, 10 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Nov. 23 — Brooklyn at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Nov. 24 — Boston at Washington, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Nov. 24 — Dallas at Denver, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Nov. 25 — Miami at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 25 — Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Nov. 25 — San Antonio at Portland, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Nov. 27 — Miami at New York, 7 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Nov. 27 — L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Nov. 30 — L.A. Lakers at Houston, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 1 — New York at Chicago, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Dec. 1 — Utah at Golden State, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Saturday, Dec. 12 — New York at Miami, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Monday, Dec. 14 — Philadelphia at Orlando, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 15 — San Antonio at Cleveland, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Dec. 15 — Denver at Portland, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Dec. 16 — Washington at Boston, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 16 — L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Dec. 18 — L.A. Clippers at Miami, 7 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Dec. 21 — New York at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 22 — Detroit at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Dec. 22 — Dallas at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Dec. 23 — Houston at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Wednesday, Dec. 23 — Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Dec. 25 — San Antonio at New York, 12 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Friday, Dec. 25 — Miami at Boston, 2:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Friday, Dec. 25 — Philadelphia at L.A. Lakers, 5 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Friday, Dec. 25 — Oklahoma City at Minnesota, 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Friday, Dec. 25 — Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Monday, Dec. 28 — Cleveland at Boston, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Dec. 28 — Minnesota at Denver, 10:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Dec. 29 — Miami at Dallas, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Dec. 29 — Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Thursday, Dec. 31 — Denver at Minnesota, 4 p.m. | Prime

Monday, Jan. 4 — Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Jan. 5 — Minnesota at Houston, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Jan. 5 — Phoenix at Denver, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Jan. 6 — Oklahoma City at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 6 — New York at Golden State, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 7 — Minnesota at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Jan. 7 — Boston at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Jan. 8 — Miami at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Jan. 8 — Phoenix at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Monday, Jan. 11 — Denver at New York, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, Jan. 11 — L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Jan. 12 — Washington at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Jan. 12 — Sacramento at Golden State, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Jan. 13 — New York at Boston, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 13 — Houston at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 14 — New Orleans, vs, San Antonio, 2 p.m. | Prime

Sunday, Jan. 17 — San Antonio, vs, New Orleans, 10:30 a.m. | Prime

Monday, Jan. 18 — Detroit at Cleveland, 12 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan. 18 — Philadelphia at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan. 18 — Minnesota at New York, 5 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan. 18 — Houston at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Jan. 19 — Charlotte at Dallas, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Jan. 19 — Utah at Denver, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Jan. 20 — Chicago at Brooklyn, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 20 — Miami at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 21 — Philadelphia at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Jan. 21 — L.A. Lakers at Golden State, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Jan. 22 — New York at Atlanta, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Jan. 22 — Minnesota at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, Jan. 24 — Oklahoma City at Golden State, 8:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan. 25 — Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, Jan. 25 — Sacramento at Denver, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Jan. 26 — Houston at San Antonio, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Jan. 26 — Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Jan. 27 — Detroit at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Jan. 27 — Denver at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 28 — Atlanta at New York, 7 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Jan. 28 — Miami at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Jan. 29 — Cleveland at Toronto, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Jan. 29 — Charlotte at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Jan. 30 — Philadelphia at Miami, 12:30 p.m. | ABC

Saturday, Jan. 30 — Denver at Oklahoma City, 3 p.m. | ABC

Saturday, Jan. 30 — San Antonio at Golden State, 5:30 p.m. | ABC

Saturday, Jan. 30 — L.A. Lakers at New York, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, Jan. 31 — Houston at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Feb. 1 — Miami at Indiana, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, Feb. 1 — San Antonio at Golden State, 10 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Feb. 2 — L.A. Lakers at Boston, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Feb. 2 — Minnesota at Portland, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Feb. 3 — New York at Detroit, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Feb. 3 — Utah at Houston, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Feb. 4 — Boston at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Feb. 4 — Dallas at Denver, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Feb. 5 — Detroit at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Feb. 5 — Indiana at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 6 — Miami at Minnesota, 3 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 6 — Portland at Memphis, 5:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 6 — L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, Feb. 7 — Boston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, Feb. 7 — New York at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Feb. 8 — Miami at Atlanta, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, Feb. 8 — L.A. Lakers at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Feb. 9 — San Antonio at Dallas, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Feb. 9 — Houston at Utah, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Feb. 10 — Golden State at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Feb. 10 — L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Feb. 11 — New York at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Feb. 11 — San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Feb. 12 — Minnesota at Boston, 8 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Feb. 12 — Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 13 — Dallas at Charlotte, 3 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 13 — Philadelphia at Oklahoma City, 5:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 13 — Golden State at New York, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Monday, Feb. 15 — Minnesota at Charlotte, 12 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Feb. 15 — Philadelphia at Dallas, 2:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Feb. 15 — San Antonio at Miami, 5 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, Feb. 15 — Indiana at Golden State, 7:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, Feb. 16 — Toronto at Atlanta, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, Feb. 16 — Houston at L.A. Clippers, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, Feb. 17 — New York at Detroit, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Feb. 17 — Boston at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Feb. 18 — San Antonio at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Feb. 18 — Houston at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Feb. 25 — Oklahoma City at New York, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, Feb. 25 — Dallas at Golden State, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, Feb. 26 — Cleveland at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Feb. 26 — L.A. Lakers at Denver, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Feb. 27 — Washington at Utah, 3 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 27 — Oklahoma City at Detroit, 5:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, Feb. 27 — Philadelphia at New York, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, Feb. 28 — Denver at San Antonio, 1 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, Feb. 28 — L.A. Lakers at Dallas, 3:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, Feb. 28 — Boston at Minnesota, 7 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, Feb. 28 — Miami at Houston, 9:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, March 1 — Philadelphia at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, March 1 — Washington at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, March 2 — Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, March 2 — L.A. Clippers at Portland, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, March 3 — Toronto at Miami, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, March 3 — San Antonio at Denver, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, March 4 — L.A. Lakers at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, March 4 — New York at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, March 5 — Boston at Detroit, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, March 5 — San Antonio at Houston, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, March 6 — Indiana at Miami, 3 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, March 6 — Atlanta at Cleveland, 5:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, March 6 — Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, March 7 — Philadelphia at Boston, 1 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, March 7 — Minnesota at Denver, 3:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, March 7 — New York at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock/TELE

Sunday, March 7 — Houston at Golden State, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, March 8 — Charlotte at Indiana, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, March 8 — Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, March 9 — Cleveland at Detroit, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, March 9 — Portland at Golden State, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, March 10 — Orlando at Miami, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, March 10 — Atlanta at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, March 11 — Philadelphia at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, March 11 — New York at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | Prime

Friday, March 12 — Oklahoma City at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, March 12 — Golden State at Denver, 10 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, March 13 — Orlando at Atlanta, 3 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, March 13 — Indiana at Houston, 5:30 p.m. | Prime

Saturday, March 13 — Philadelphia at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. | ABC

Saturday, March 13 — L.A. Clippers at Portland, 10:30 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, March 14 — Boston at New York, 12 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, March 14 — San Antonio at Oklahoma City, 2:30 p.m. | ABC

Sunday, March 14 — Miami at Denver, 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, March 14 — Golden State at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, March 15 — Toronto at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, March 15 — Atlanta at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, March 16 — Detroit at Indiana, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, March 16 — Denver at L.A. Clippers, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, March 17 — Dallas at Oklahoma City, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, March 17 — Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, March 21 — San Antonio at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, March 21 — Dallas at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, March 22 — Indiana at Orlando, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, March 22 — Detroit at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23 — LA Lakers at Miami, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, March 23 — Oklahoma City at Phoenix, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, March 24 — San Antonio at Boston, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, March 24 — Philadelphia at Golden State, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, March 27 — San Antonio at Detroit, 3 p.m. | Prime

Sunday, March 28 — New York at Orlando, 12:30 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, March 28 — L.A. Lakers at Houston, 3 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, March 28 — Oklahoma City at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, March 28 — Philadelphia at Denver, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, March 29 — Miami at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Monday, March 29 — Phoenix at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, March 30 — New York at Orlando, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, March 30 — Houston at Portland, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, March 31 — Golden State at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, March 31 — Denver at Dallas, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, April 1 — Boston at Cleveland, 7 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, April 1 — L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, April 2 — Golden State at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, April 2 — Denver at Phoenix, 10 p.m. | Prime

Sunday, April 4 — Boston at New York, 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Sunday, April 4 — San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Monday, April 5 — Miami at Orlando, 7 p.m. | Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday, April 6 — New York at Atlanta, 8 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Tuesday, April 6 — Phoenix at Golden State, 11 p.m. | NBC/Peacock

Wednesday, April 7 — Cleveland at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, April 7 — Minnesota at L.A. Lakers, 10 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, April 8 — Philadelphia at Miami, 7 p.m. | Prime

Thursday, April 8 — Golden State at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Friday, April 9 — Detroit at New York, 7 p.m. | Prime

Friday, April 9 — Denver at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. | Prime

Contributing: Scooby Axson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA national TV, streaming schedule for 2026-27 season: See the full slate

The Los Angeles Lakers revamped the roster this offseason, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the primary focal points for the team.

The duo will help provide the offensive firepower necessary to win games during the regular season, but it's the questions on defense that could determine how the season will play out for the team.

Second-year coach JJ Redick and the Lakers finished the 2025-26 season with a 53-29 record and in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Lakers reached the Western Conference semifinals but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The roster was plagued with injuries throughout the season, with LeBron James, Reaves and Doncic all missing portions of the year.

With new pieces around star players, there will still be an expectation that the season will be defined by whether or not the franchise wins its 18th championship.

Here are some of the key games that will help shape the Lakers’ season:

Lakers’ key games for 2026-27 season

Golden State Warriors at Lakers, Oct. 21 (Opening night)

• The Lakers will host the Warriors at home to open the season. It will set an early tone for what a healthy roster could look like for the purple and yellow.

Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, Nov. 27

• The Lakers visit Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for their first true test of the season against a Western Conference contender. 

Philadelphia 76ers at Lakers, Dec. 25 (Christmas)

• LeBron James returns to Los Angeles, where he had spent the past eight seasons of his career. The 76ers are expected to be one of the top contenders in the East. It will be the first of two meetings between the teams.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Lakers, Jan. 1

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will present one of the toughest challenges for the Lakers this season. The series includes three games, but they won’t take place until the back half of the season.

Boston Celtics vs. Lakers, Jan. 7

• The Lakers will host the rival Celtics in a featured game on Prime. It will be just the first of two games on the schedule between the two teams. The second game will happen in Boston.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers schedule: Notable games that will shape 2026-27 season

Welcome to Los Angeles, Luka Doncic. 

I know you were upset about The Trade, but now you can decompress amid the stability of one of the greatest brands in sports. You’ve joined the darlings of the NBA. The 17-time champions. It’s all sunshine, sea breezes and engraved diamond rings from here on forward. 

Or is it?

Eighteen months ago, Doncic had the rug pulled from under him after believing he would spend his entire career in Dallas. The last 14 months? 

There have been two ownership changes with the Lakers. The Buss family agreed to sell the franchise to Mark Walter in June 2025, and then Walter sold the team to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner this week. 

What does this mean for Luka? 

Well, he went from tossing his phone across the room amid the betrayal and bewilderment of being perhaps the only top-four player in his mid-20s who was blindsided by a trade, to likely squinting with surprise while reading the stunning news (twice!) on his damaged screen about his new franchise. 

Iger and Kushner may not have experience guiding a team to a championship, but here’s to hoping they’re quick learners. 

Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension that includes a player option for the 2028-2029 season. That means he could leave after the 2027-2028 season if he wants. This much is for sure: His short-lived tenure with the Lakers hasn’t exactly been a model of stability. 

The superstar acknowledged that much while reacting to Wednesday’s news. 

“Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA,” he wrote. “I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”

While players and ownership are typically pretty siloed, Doncic needs to know that the Lakers will be on a championship course. Iger is the former CEO of Disney. Kushner is a venture capitalist and the younger brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

Right now, we have more questions than answers. 

Are there going to be major changes to the front office? Are there going to be shifts in strategy? What the heck is going on? 

Under Walter, the Lakers had a sense of direction. He helped guide the Dodgers to three World Series championships after buying the team in 2012. The Lakers had oversight from Dodgers’ brass. New front office positions were created. There was a marked shift towards data and analytics. 

It’s unclear what the plan will be going forward. 

That must be destabilizing for Doncic, who deeply values continuity. He wanted to become one of the few NBA players who finished his career where it began. All of this change is dizzying. 

Right now his focus is on making the Lakers a championship organization once again. LeBron James left in free agency. The Lakers are his. 

It’s a responsibility he’s taking seriously. 

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He’s hosting a four-day mini camp in Slovenia next week. He’s paying for his teammates’ travel expenses. He had significant influence over the Lakers’ roster moves this summer, including the blockbuster acquisition of Walker Kessler. He’s doing everything he can to build chemistry. 

But there’s a lot of background noise. 

After 47 years of ownership by the Buss family, the Lakers are once again undergoing a major shakeup. They’re front and center in the news. There are so many unknowns. 

Dončić is at the center of the storm. He’s going to shoulder the blame if the Lakers fall short next season. Fingers are going to point at him. 

He’s doing his part.

Doncic was the league’s leading scorer last season. He carried the Lakers on a 16-2 run last spring, averaging a stunning 37.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game over that stretch. If he hadn’t suffered a strained hamstring that sidelined him during the playoffs, who knows how far the Lakers could’ve gone.

The Lakers are doing their part, too. They immediately made Doncic their priority after acquiring him, even with James on the roster. They added the personnel Doncic wanted. He has seemed happy.

But he needs to be assured that he has the proper infrastructure around him. 

And over the last two years, the only thing he has known for sure is that everything around him keeps crumbling.

Here’s to hoping Iger and Kushner put some solid ground underneath him. 

Or else it’s fair to wonder if the Lakers might have to brace for yet another shakeup.