The 2026-27 NBA schedule brings high-stakes returns for two former Finals MVPs, sending Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo back to face the franchises that traded them during a dramatic offseason, according to schedule releases detailed by the Associated Press.
Homecoming Dates Set for January Showdowns
Jaylen Brown will step back onto the parquet floor in Boston on Jan. 21, facing the Celtics for the first time since his offseason trade to the rival Philadelphia 76ers. Exactly one week later, on Jan. 28, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat will travel to Milwaukee to face the Bucks. Both matchups land on Thursday nights and will stream live on Prime Video, according to league announcements.
Antetokounmpo entered the summer amid heavy trade speculation—with rumors briefly pairing him in swap scenarios alongside Brown—before ultimately landing in Miami.
Opening Night and Key Calendar Milestones
The 2026-27 regular season tips off on Oct. 20 with an opening-night tripleheader. The slate features LeBron James, Brown, and the 76ers visiting the New York Knicks, who will receive their rings after winning the franchise’s first championship since 1973. The regular season concludes on April 11, while NBA All-Star Weekend is scheduled for Feb. 19-21 in Phoenix.
Every team will play on Monday, Nov. 2, followed by a complete league-wide shutdown on Tuesday, Nov. 3, which marks U.S. Election Day. The NBA leaves the date open to encourage fans and members of the NBA community to participate in the voting process.
Down the stretch, the league has cleared games from Saturday, April 10, the second-to-last day of the regular season. All teams take the floor on the final day, with the one interconference matchup scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT, and the games involving West teams set for 8:30 p.m. EDT.
Broadcast Reach and National TV Windows
Fans will see an expanded national television footprint this season, with ABC and NBC carrying 90 regular-season games, up from 79 last year. Weekly broadcast distribution spans multiple platforms:
- Mondays: Streaming on Peacock
- Tuesdays: Broadcast on NBC and Peacock
- Wednesdays: Televised on ESPN
- Fridays: Streaming on Prime Video
Saturday night primetime action on ABC kicks off Dec. 12 when the Knicks visit the Heat. NBC’s “Sunday Night Basketball” returns on Jan. 24 as Oklahoma City travels to Golden State. Prime Video expands its coverage in February with Saturday afternoon broadcasts, beginning Feb. 6 with Portland at Memphis—a game that marks Ja Morant’s return to face the Grizzlies for the first time.
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