"We get to watch Podz 34 times" - NBA fans erupt as Lakers & Warriors dominate national TV coverage for 2025-26 season

The NBA announced the schedule for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, including the national TV games for every team. Leading the way with the most national coverage (34) are the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and the defending champion OKC Thunder. The Dallas Mavericks, featuring Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis, got 23.

Fans promptly reacted to the national TV coverage released by the NBA:

"We get to watch Podz 34 times."

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One fan said:

Another fan added:

One more fan continued:

Another fan reacted:

Last year, the Lakers topped the list with 39, followed by the Warriors with 36. The former champs, the Boston Celtics, had 34, tied with the New York Knicks. With Luka Doncic still on the roster, the Dallas Mavericks were scheduled to appear in 30 nationally televised games, seven more than they will have next season.

Unsurprisingly, the OKC Thunder had the biggest leap in national coverage. From 25 last season, they leapfrog to a tie for first with the Warriors and the Lakers. As the reigning NBA champs, they earned their share of the limelight.

The Boston Celtics’ national TV appearance dropped from 34 to 25, which is not surprising following Jayson Tatum’s injury and the shredding of salaries. Still, they have one more than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who could rule the Eastern Conference next season.

Meanwhile, the NBA gave the LA Clippers 21 dates on national TV. For a team that retooled with John Collins, Brook Lopez and Bradley Beal, the number might be a little low, particularly if they dominate.

The NBA continues to lean on Warriors and Lakers for Christmas Day

The NBA continues to rely on the Warriors and the Lakers to deliver on Christmas Day. This year, both teams will again appear during the highly coveted dates.

Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks will visit the Bay Area for a showdown with the Dubs. Klay Thompson returns to his old haunts to go up against familiar faces at 5:00 PM ET.

Three hours later, the retooled Houston Rockets, led by Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, travel to Los Angeles for a date with the Lakers. The last time Durant and LeBron James played against each other on Christmas was December 25, 2018. If both are healthy, this highlights a star-studded encounter that also includes Lakers point guard Luka Doncic.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero