The NBA returns to ESPN on Wednesday, October 29, for a doubleheader during NBA opening week. At 8 p.m. ET, the Chicago Bulls welcome Derrick Rose back to action as they visit the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony. At 10:30 p.m., the Oklahoma City Thunder and reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant will visit the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard. The NBA’s opening week continues on Halloween – Friday, October 31 – as the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James visit the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose at 8 p.m. In the nightcap, the Los Angeles Lakers and the returning Kobe Bryant host the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul at 10:30 p.m. NBA Countdown will precede both games with special one-hour pre-game shows at 7 p.m.
All ESPN games will be available on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox, Fire TV and Apple TV via WatchESPN. ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes will also have coverage throughout the season. In addition, the NBA Countdown pre-game show will generally preview ABC and ESPN games or doubleheaders 30 minutes prior to game time.
NBA Christmas Day Highlighted by LeBron James’ Return to Miami
ABC and ESPN will combine to televise three games on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, beginning at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN when the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony host the Washington Wizards and John Wall. ABC will then broadcast an NBA doubleheader: the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and Tony Parker host the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant in a rematch of the 2014 Western Conference Finals at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Miami return of LeBron James as the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade at 5 p.m.
Christmas Day schedule
| Time (ET) | Telecast | Network(s) |
| 12 p.m. | Washington Wizards at New York Knicks | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| 2 p.m. | NBA Countdown | ABC, WatchABC |
| 2:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | ABC, WatchABC |
| 5 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat | ABC, WatchABC |
ABC schedule highlights
- 15 exclusive, national broadcasts and seven doubleheaders, including Christmas Day – Dec. 25, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Mar. 1, Mar. 8, Mar. 15, Apr. 5;
- Christmas Day blockbuster doubleheader: Oklahoma City Thunder at defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs at 2:30 p.m.; LeBron James returns to Miami for Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat at 5 p.m.;
- Multiple appearances by top NBA superstars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and more;
- Six appearances by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant, plus five appearances each by the Cleveland Cavaliers – led by LeBron James – and the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose;
- Four appearances by the Los Angeles Clippers, featuring the “Lob City” tandem of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin;
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers – Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James in matchup of last two MVPs – Jan. 25;
- Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers – Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James – on Feb. 8;
- First-ever Golden State Warriors appearance on Mar. 8;
- NBA Countdown pre-game show generally 30 minutes prior to every ABC game or doubleheader.
ESPN schedule highlights
- 75 national telecasts and 34 doubleheaders;
- LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony in action during star-studded NBA opening week on ESPN;
- Los Angeles Lakers to visit New York Knicks on Super Bowl Sunday Feb. 1; Phoenix Suns to host Chicago Bulls Super Bowl Weekend on Jan. 30;
- 10 appearances each by the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kevin Durant, the defending NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan, the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, the Los Angeles Clippers and Chris Paul and the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard;
- Nine appearances each by the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry, the Houston Rockets and Dwight Howard, the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant, the Miami Heat and Dwyane Wade, the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony and the Washington Wizards and John Wall;
- Derrick Rose’s return to the Chicago Bulls to air on ESPN’s opening night of NBA coverage, Oct. 29;
- First Christmas Day appearance by the Washington Wizards;
- Special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matchup between the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 19;
- The Houston Rockets will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in a matchup emanating from Mexico City on Nov. 12;
- Kia NBA Countdown pre-game show generally 30 minutes prior to ESPN games or doubleheaders.
ABC Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
| Thu, Dec. 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs |
| 5 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat | |
| Sun, Jan. 25 | 1 p.m. | Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls |
| 3:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Sun, Feb. 8 | 1 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 3:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Sun, Feb. 22 | 1 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks |
| Sun, Mar. 1 | 1 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Chicago Bulls |
| 3:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Sun, Mar. 8 | 1 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs |
| 3:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors | |
| Sun, Mar. 15 | 1 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 3:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Sun, Apr. 5 | 1 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 3:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers |
ESPN Schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Game |
| Wed, Oct. 29 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Fri, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Wed, Nov. 5 | 8 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors | |
| Fri, Nov. 7 | 8 p.m. | Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 10:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets | |
| Wed, Nov. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat |
| 10 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves(From Mexico City) | |
| Fri, Nov. 14 | 10 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers |
| Wed, Nov. 19 | 7 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets | |
| Fri, Nov. 21 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Wed, Nov. 26 | 7:30 p.m. | New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks |
| Wed, Dec. 10 | 8 p.m. | New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs |
| 10:30 p.m. | Miami Heat at Denver Nuggets | |
| Fri, Dec. 12 | 7 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls |
| 9:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs | |
| Tue, Dec. 16 | 8 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Sacramento Kings | |
| Wed, Dec. 17 | 8 p.m. | Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets | |
| Fri, Dec. 19 | 8 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Thu, Dec. 25 | 12 p.m. | Washington Wizards at New York Knicks |
| Wed, Jan. 7 | 7 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 9:30 p.m. | Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Fri, Jan. 9 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | |
| Wed, Jan. 14 | 8 p.m. | Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Fri, Jan. 16 | 8 p.m. | Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 10:30 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Mon, Jan. 19 | 2:30 p.m. | Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks |
| Wed, Jan. 21 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors | |
| Fri, Jan. 23 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks |
| Wed, Jan. 28 | 8 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks |
| 10:30 p.m. | Washington Wizards at Phoenix Suns | |
| Fri, Jan. 30 | 8 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat |
| 10:30 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Phoenix Suns | |
| Sat, Jan. 31 | 9 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs |
| Sun, Feb. 1 | 2 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at New York Knicks |
| Wed, Feb. 4 | 8 p.m. | Chicago Bulls at Houston Rockets |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors | |
| Fri, Feb. 6 | 7 p.m. | New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets |
| 9:30 p.m. | Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs | |
| Wed, Feb. 11 | 8 p.m. | Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Fri, Feb. 20 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors | |
| Wed, Feb. 25 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets |
| 10:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Fri, Feb. 27 | 8 p.m. | Miami Heat at New Orleans Pelicans |
| 10:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Wed, Mar. 4 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Clippers | |
| Fri, Mar. 6 | 8 p.m. | Miami Heat at Washington Wizards |
| 10:30 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors | |
| Wed, Mar. 11 | 8 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 10:30 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Portland Trail Blazers | |
| Mon, Mar. 16 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat |
| 10:30 p.m. | Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors | |
| Wed, Mar. 18 | 8 p.m. | Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls |
| 10:30 p.m. | Washington Wizards at Utah Jaz | |
| Wed, Mar. 25 | 7 p.m. | Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks |
| 9:30 p.m. | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs | |
| Fri, Apr. 3 | 8 p.m. | Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls |
| 10:30 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers | |
| Wed, Apr. 8 | 7 p.m. | Toronto Raptors at Charlotte Hornets |
| 9:30 p.m. | Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks | |
| Wed, Apr. 15 | 8 p.m. | Charlotte Hornets at Toronto Raptors |
| 10:30 p.m. | Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors |