NBA coverage will look different on ESPN this season.
Although the network’s most notable game commentators — Mike Breen on play-by-play and Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson as analysts — returns, the rest of ESPN's NBA programming features a fresh set of voices and a new show as the network opted for a major offseason shakeup.
Here’s everything you need to know about ESPN’s NBA programming heading into the new season.
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ESPN and ABC will nationally televise 101 NBA games this season, which is the most of any other national station (TNT has 65 and NBA TV has 107).
ESPN will broadcast 82 games total, including five games on Christmas Day, highlighted by a potential Finals meeting with the Nets and Lakers.
ABC will have primetime games on seven Saturdays and contests on nine Sundays. ESPN will televise doubleheaders on the final day of the regular season, and the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament will take place April 12 through April 15. ESPN and ABC will broadcast the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, and ABC will televise the 2022 NBA Finals.
MORE: Watch NBA on ESPN with fuboTV (seven-day free trial)
Some of the top ESPN matchups include Kevin Durant’s return to face the Warriors for the first time with fans in attendance on Jan. 29, as well as a pair of matchups between the Lakers and Warriors on Feb. 12 and March, 5, respectively.
ABC’s most notable matchups include an NBA Finals rematch between the Suns and Bucks on March 6 and a meeting between the Suns and Jazz — the top two seeds in the Western Conference last season — on Feb. 27.
MORE: The 10 'can't miss' games on the NBA schedule
Who are the announcers for NBA on ESPN?
Play-by-play
- Mike Breen
- Mark Jones
- Dave Pasch
- Ryan Ruocco
- Brian Custer
- Beth Mowins
Analysts
- Jeff Van Gundy
- Mark Jackson
- Richard Jefferson
- Vince Carter
- Hubie Brown
- Doris Burke
Reporters
- Lisa Salters
- Cassidy Hubbarth
- Malika Andrews
- Jorge Sedano
- Rosalyn Gold-Onwude
- Katie George
What are ESPN’s NBA studio shows?
- “NBA Countdown”: This show serves as the primer for game telecasts on ABC and ESPN. Its new team will feature analysts Stephen A. Smith, Michael Wilbon, Jalen Rose and host Mike Greenberg, as well as frequent appearances from Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson. The team will make its debut at Madison Square Garden ahead of the Celtics vs. Knicks game on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET and will have on-site updates within the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter leading into NBA Countdown. Starting in January, the Wednesday editions of NBA Countdown will be hosted by Michael Eaves and featureRichard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and WNBA Star Chiney Ogwumike.
- “NBA Today”: Replacing “The Jump,” NBA Today will be the program’s new weekday afternoon show, which will be hosted by Malika Andrews and include analysts Kendrick Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, Vince Carter and Zach Lowe. It will make its debut on Monday, Oct. 18 on ESPN2 and will air on ESPN on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The show will air from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET Mondays through Fridays.
- “Hoop Streams”: ESPN’s digital pre-game show will hosted by Cassidy Hubbarth and debut during “premiere week” leading into ESPN’s first night of NBA game coverage on Wednesday, Oct. 18. The show is available on the ESPN App and ESPN’s Twitter, Facebook and YouTube platforms.
What NBA games will be on ESPN in 2021-22?
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | Boston at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | Denver at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | Brooklyn at Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | Phoenix at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 27 | Atlanta at New Orleans | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 27 | Memphis at Portland | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 29 | Charlotte at Miami | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 29 | Dallas at Denver | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 3 | Atlanta at Brooklyn | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 3 | Charlotte at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 5 | New York at Milwaukee | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 5 | New Orleans at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 10 | Detroit at Houston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 10 | Miami at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 12 | Milwaukee at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 12 | Chicago at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 17 | Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 17 | Dallas at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 19 | Los Angeles Lakers at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Nov. 19 | Dallas at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 24 | Brooklyn at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 24 | Philadelphia at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 3 | Philadelphia at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 3 | Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 8 | Milwaukee at Miami | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 8 | Portland at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 10 | Brooklyn at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 10 | Boston at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 15 | Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 15 | Los Angeles Clippers at Utah | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 17 | Golden State at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 17 | Milwaukee at New Orleans | 10 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 25 | Atlanta at New York | 12 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 25 | Brooklyn at Los Angeles Lakers | 8 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec. 25 | Dallas at Utah | 10:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 5 | Golden State at Dallas | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 5 | Utah at Denver | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 7 | Milwaukee at Brooklyn | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 7 | Atlanta at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 12 | Dallas at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 12 | Brooklyn at Chicago | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 14 | Boston at Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 14 | Dallas at Memphis | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 19 | Charlotte at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 19 | Los Angeles Clippers at Denver | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 21 | Toronto at Washington | 8 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 26 | Memphis at San Antonio | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Jan. 26 | Phoenix at Utah | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 28 | Boston at Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Jan. 28 | New York at Milwaukee | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 2 | Memphis at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 2 | Denver at Utah | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Feb. 4 | New Orleans at Denver | 10 p.m. |
| Sunday, Feb. 6 | Atlanta at Dallas | 6 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 9 | Chicago at Charlotte | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 9 | Golden State at Utah | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 16 | Brooklyn at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 16 | Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Feb. 25 | Miami at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, Feb. 25 | Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Sunday, Feb. 27 | Dallas at Golden State | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Feb. 27 | New Orleans at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 2 | New York at Philadelphia | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 2 | Portland at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Friday, March 4 | Milwaukee at Chicago | 7:30 p.m. |
| Friday, March 4 | New York at Phoenix | 10 p.m. |
| Sunday, March 6 | New York at Los Angeles Clippers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, March 6 | New Orleans at Denver | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 9 | Atlanta at Milwaukee | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 9 | Portland at Utah | 10 p.m. |
| Sunday, March 13 | Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix | 8 p.m. |
| Monday, March 14 | Denver at Philadelphia | 10:30 p.m. |
| Monday, March 14 | Milwaukee at Utah | 10:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 16 | Dallas at Brooklyn | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 16 | Boston at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 23 | Brooklyn at Memphis | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 23 | Philadelphia at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 30 | Miami at Boston | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, March 30 | Phoenix at Golden State | 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 6 | Brooklyn at New York | 7:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, April 6 | Phoenix at Los Angeles Clippers | 10 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 10 | TBD | 1 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 10 | TBD | 3:30 p.m. |
What NBA games will be on ABC in 2021-22?
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Dec. 11 | Golden State at Philadelphia | 8:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 25 | Boston at Milwaukee | 2:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 25 | Golden State at Phoenix | 5 p.m. |
| Dec. 25 | Brooklyn at Los Angeles Lakers | 8 p.m. |
| Jan. 29 | Brooklyn at Golden State | 8:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 5 | New York at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 12 | Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State | 8:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 13 | Atlanta at Boston | 2 p.m. |
| Feb. 26 | Brooklyn at Milwaukee | 8:30 p.m. |
| Feb. 27 | Philadelphia at New York | 1 p.m. |
| Feb. 27 | Utah at Phoenix | 3 p.m. |
| March 5 | Golden State at Los Angeles Lakers | 8:30 p.m. |
| March 6 | Brooklyn at Boston | 1 p.m. |
| March 6 | Phoenix at Milwaukee | 3:30 p.m. |
| March 12 | Milwaukee at Golden State | 8:30 p.m. |
| March 13 | New York at Brooklyn | 1 p.m. |
| March 13 | Dallas at Boston | 3:30 p.m. |
| April 3 | Dallas at Milwaukee | 1 p.m. |
| April 3 | Denver at Los Angeles Lakers | 3:30 p.m. |
