ESPN releases 'Inside the NBA' schedule for 2026-27 season

Photo Courtesy of ESPN.

ESPN today announced its 2026-27 regular season schedule for Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly. Produced by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studios, the iconic studio show will make 25 regular season appearances across ESPN and ABC, providing fans with a consistent presence throughout the NBA season.

Hosted by Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson and featuring analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, the Inside the NBA team will continue to provide pregame, halftime and postgame coverage surrounding many of ESPN and ABC’s marquee NBA game windows and events.

Run it back‼️

Inside the NBA returns on ESPN and ABC starting October 21 🏀

pic.twitter.com/MTRaklP9Cf

— ESPN (@espn)

October 1, 2026

The schedule begins with coverage of NBA Opening Week on October 21 and 22 and continues weekly throughout the season’s first four weeks, giving fans an early-season destination alongside ESPN’s NBA coverage. The season-long slate also features a regular presence following NBA on Christmas and throughout January before the start of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC.

From opening week through the final day of the regular season, the Inside the NBA team will continue to deliver its signature blend of basketball insight, entertainment and candid conversation around many of the league’s most anticipated matchups and events.

NBA Tip-Off presented by Eli Lilly will generally begin one hour prior to tipoff for ESPN game telecasts and 30 minutes before tipoff on ABC, with Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly postgame coverage beginning immediately following game broadcasts.

ESPN’s Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly 2026-27 regular season schedule

Date

Network

Game franchise

Wed, Oct. 21

ESPN

NBA on ESPN doubleheader/NBA Tip-Off

Thu, Oct. 22

Wed, Oct. 28

NBA on ESPN doubleheader

Wed, Nov. 4

Wed, Nov. 11

Wed, Nov. 25

NBA on ESPN Thanksgiving Eve tripleheader

Sat, Dec. 12

ABC

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC

Fri, Dec. 25

ESPN/ABC

NBA Christmas Day presented by State Farm

Wed, Jan. 6

Fri, Jan. 8

Wed, Jan. 13

Fri, Jan. 22

Wed, Jan. 27

Sat, Jan. 30

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC/NBA Rivals Week quadrupleheader

Sat, Feb. 6

Wed, Feb. 10

Fri, Feb. 12

NBA on ESPN

Sat, Feb. 13

Wed, Feb. 17

Fri, Feb. 26

Sat, Feb. 27

Fri, Mar. 5

Sat, Mar. 6

Sat, Mar. 13

Sun, Apr. 11

NBA on ESPN doubleheader/NBA regular season finale

Schedule subject to change.

The Inside the NBA schedule for the 2027 NBA Playoffs, including the conference finals and NBA Finals, will be announced later in the season. Alongside Inside the NBA presented by Eli Lilly, ESPN’s robust NBA studio lineup includes NBA Countdown presented by Eli Lilly and NBA Today, both hosted by

Malika Andrews

. NBA Countdown presented by Eli Lilly will continue to provide coverage throughout the NBA season across ESPN and ABC, while NBA Today, ESPN’s weekday NBA studio show, delivers year-round news, analysis and storytelling across the league.