The NBA season is approaching this year with new deals, trades and remodeled teams. Fans are eager to see if their team will be an NBA champion or a bust.
The league’s new TV deal
On July 24, 2024, the NBA announced a renewed 11-year media contract with the Walt Disney Company. Then, it signed brand-new agreements with NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video to expand the reach of NBA broadcasts.
Amazon, ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video will broadcast NBA games for the 2025-26 season, running through the 2035-36 season.
The Walt Disney Company will distribute a total of 80 NBA regular-season games per season.
NBCUniversal will distribute up to 100 NBA regular-season games per season.
Amazon will distribute 66 NBA regular-season games on Prime Video for each season.
Season opener
This year’s opening night will take place on Oct. 21, with the following schedule: 4:30 p.m. PDT: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder, and 7 p.m. PDT: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers.
Teams to look out for: Los Angeles Lakers
On Feb. 5, the Dallas Mavericks initiated, possibly, the most unexpected trade in NBA history. The main focus is on former Rookie of the Year Luka Dončić joining the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA Champion Anthony Davis moving to the Dallas Mavericks.
The three-team deal included six current players being split between the teams and three future picks.
The Lakers, with Luka Dončić and NBA veteran LeBron James in their starting lineup, weren’t enough; they lost in the first round last season.
Now, with the addition of former Portland Trail Blazer Deandre Ayton, the Lakers are adding depth and height to their lineup.
Houston Rockets
On July 6, a historic trade was made, with the focus on superstar Kevin Durant joining the Rockets in return for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and several other assets, involving 13 players and seven teams.
The Rockets’ dreams were cut short after losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Now that they have acquired Kevin Durant and Clint Capela, they are looking to make a run at the NBA Championship this year.
New York Knicks
Former head coach of the New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau, was fired after another devastating loss in the playoffs last season.
Thibodeau coached for the Knicks for five seasons. He led the team to their first four playoff appearances in eight years, including an Eastern Conference Finals birth last season.
The Knicks replaced Thibodeau with Mike Brown, NBA Coach of the Year in 2023, as the new head coach.
Brown is already making changes to the Knicks’ lineup, giving them more depth by expanding the rotation to 10 players.
Final thoughts
The NBA’s return this year is going to be exciting; make sure to keep up with your favorite team and players around the league.
