Lakers Join Sixers, Knicks, Spurs Atop NBA’s National TV Slate
The Thunder, meanwhile, will play 30 national TV games this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers have joined the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs at the top of the NBA's national TV slate for the 2026-27 season. LeBron James, now playing for the 76ers, will appear in a maximum of 34 nationally televised games, while his former Los Angeles team will also feature in that number of games.
Luka Doncic's Lakers, along with James's 76ers, Jalen Brunson's defending champion Knicks, and Victor Wembanyama's Spurs, will each play 34 national TV games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the 2025 champion Thunder are scheduled for 30 national TV appearances, followed by Steph Curry's Warriors and Nikola Jokic's Nuggets with 28 each.
Jayson Tatum's Celtics and Anthony Edwards's Timberwolves will play 27 games. Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat will have 25 national TV games. The Lakers' strong national TV schedule may come as a surprise due to LeBron James's departure, but it makes sense considering the team's large fanbase and the fact that Los Angeles is one of the country's biggest TV markets.
The Lakers' arrival on the national TV stage coincides with a new holiday quadrupleheader on NBC for Presidents Day, featuring the Sixers, the returning Celtics, the Knicks, and the Spurs. The NBA season will kick off on October 20 with a tripleheader starting at 3 p.m. ET, indicating a shift towards more creative scheduling.
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