The NBA has officially released the schedule for the 2023-24 season, marking the 78th regular season. Commencing on October 24, 2023, with a doubleheader on TNT featuring the Nuggets against the Lakers and the Suns against the Warriors, the regular season will extend until April 14, 2024. Following this, the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament will occur from April 16 to April 19, leading into the commencement of the 2024 NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel on April 20. The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament will include two games for each team in early December, the specifics of which will be determined based on Group Play outcomes. The Group Play schedule was revealed on August 15.
The first five days of the season, known as Kia NBA Tip-Off 2023, will feature 10 national television games. This includes doubleheaders on TNT and ESPN, as well as one on NBA TV, showcasing 14 different teams, and featuring rematches from the 2023 Playoffs.
Christmas Day, a long-standing tradition, will showcase five games on December 25, broadcasted by ABC or ESPN. The day’s schedule includes matchups like the Bucks versus the Knicks, the Warriors versus the Nuggets, the Lakers versus the Celtics, the 76ers versus the Heat, and the Mavericks versus the Suns.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day will feature four nationally televised games, with the Hawks facing the Spurs and the Grizzlies meeting the Warriors in a TNT doubleheader. Additionally, NBA TV will air two games: Rockets at 76ers and Thunder at Lakers.
The second annual NBA Rivals Week, occurring in January, will spotlight classic and emerging rivalries in 11 nationally televised games across TNT, ESPN, ABC, and NBA TV. This event will culminate in an ABC tripleheader on January 27, including matchups between the Heat and Knicks, and the Lakers and Warriors, along with a face-off between Joel Embiid and Nikola Joki?.
Election Day, on November 7, will not host any NBA games for the second consecutive season. Instead, the league will emphasize encouraging fans and the broader NBA community to participate in the civic process.
In a bid to enhance competitive fairness, all 30 teams will compete on the final day of the regular season. The games involving Eastern Conference teams will commence at 1 p.m. ET, while those between Western Conference teams and the cross-conference game will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN will broadcast a doubleheader.
NBA Global Games will be televised by NBA TV, including matchups in Mexico City and Paris. The In-Season Tournament will kick off with Group Play games in November, followed by Knockout Rounds in December. The national broadcast schedule for the latter rounds will be disclosed at a later date.
Various notable matchups are scheduled throughout the season, including NBA Finals rematches, clashes between top draft picks, and games involving prominent players making significant returns.
The NBA on TNT, ESPN, ABC, and NBA TV will employ flexible scheduling for the regular season to ensure captivating matchups reach a national audience. Additionally, the average number of back-to-back games with travel has been reduced to a record-low 9.0.
Primetime weeknight doubleheaders will continue to be a staple on TNT and ESPN, while ABC will televise 16 games as part of NBA Saturday Primetime and NBA Sunday Showcase.
NBA TV will introduce Center Court, a specially produced telecast with enhanced viewing options. ESPN Radio will broadcast 25 regular-season games, NBA League Pass will offer live, out-of-market games, and NBA games and programming will be accessible in over 214 countries and territories. The 2024 NBA Finals, Eastern Conference Finals, Western Conference Finals, and the 2024 NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised by ABC, ESPN/ABC, and TNT, respectively, with the latter taking place on February 18, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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