The Emmy Award-winning studio show “Inside the NBA” officially moved to ESPN and ABC for the 2025-26 NBA regular season when the Knicks hosted the Cavaliers on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The network released its schedule for the show’s debut.
The program will continue to be produced by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studios and will feature the longtime cast of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
According to ESPN, the show will serve as the pregame, halftime and postgame coverage for high-profile NBA events on both ESPN and ABC, including the NBA Playoffs and the Eastern Conference Finals. This season will mark the first time “Inside the NBA” will provide coverage for the NBA Finals, which air exclusively on ABC.
The 21-time Emmy-winning show will make its ESPN debut during two nights of season-opening action. The first broadcast is scheduled for Oct. 22 from 6 to 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN2, with the second airing Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. Postgame shows will air on ESPN immediately following the doubleheader games on both nights.
Throughout the season, “Inside the NBA” will be integrated into major events, including the NBA on Christmas Day, “NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC” and “NBA Sunday Showcase.”
Here’s the full schedule:
DateChannelGame(s)Wed, Oct. 22ESPNCavaliers @ KnicksThu, Oct. 23ESPNThunder @ Pacers
Nuggets @ WarriorsWed, Oct. 29ESPNCavaliers @ Celtics
Lakers @ TimberwolvesWed, Nov. 12ESPNMagic @ Knicks
Lakers @ ThunderThu, Dec. 25ESPN, ABCCavaliers @ Knicks
Spurs @ Thunder
Mavericks @ Warriors
Rockets @ Lakers
Timberwolves @ NuggetsSat, Jan. 24ABCKnicks @ Sixers
Warriors @ Timberwolves
Lakers @ MavericksWed., Jan. 28ESPNLakers @ Cavaliers
Spurs @ RocketsSat, Jan. 31ABCMavericks @ RocketsSat, Feb. 7ABCRockets @ Thunder
Warriors @ LakersFri, Feb. 20ESPNMavericks @ Timberwolves
Clippers @ LakersSat, Feb. 21ABCRockets @ KnicksSun, Feb. 22ABCCavaliers @ Thunder
Nuggets @ WarriorsFri, Feb. 27ESPNWarriors @ Pistons
Nuggets @ ThunderSat, Feb. 28ABCLakers @ WarriorsSun, Mar. 1ABCSpurs @ Knicks
Timberwolves @ NuggetsFri, Mar. 6ESPNMavericks @ Celtics
Clippers @ SpursSat, Mar. 7ABCWarriors @ ThunderSun, Mar. 8ABCCeltics @ Caveliers
Knicks @ LakersSat, Mar. 14ABCNuggets @ LakersSun, Apr. 12ESPNTBA
“We’re proud that Inside the NBA – one of the most iconic and beloved shows in all of media – will play a leading role in our NBA coverage,” Burke Magnus, ESPN President, Content, said in a press release. “Fans should expect the same great show they’re accustomed to watching as it becomes an essential part of the highest-profile events in the NBA, including the NBA Finals.”
Over its 36-year run, “Inside the NBA” has been inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and received the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s first Transformative Media Award in 2020.
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