Starting lineup for team NBC on Peacock. Image via: NBC The NBA’s long-awaited return to NBC will not be quiet. On October 21, the league tips off on NBC and Peacock with a doubleheader loaded with storylines, and a broadcast team that features Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller, Grant Hill, and Jamal Crawford. NBC used its most-watched stage, Sunday Night Football, to introduce its new basketball era, banking on NFL viewers to fuel fresh momentum for its 11-year NBA deal.
Thunder’s championship spotlight meets NBC’s bold introduction
The promo, which aired during the Baltimore Ravens–Buffalo Bills game, cleverly hijacked the familiar pregame introductions. Instead of announcing Oklahoma City Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, NBC rolled out its broadcast crew as “the starting lineup for your Team NBC and Peacock.” The bit left the Thunder trio waiting in confusion until NBC Sports mainstay Mike Tirico closed with, “That’s my team.”Joseph Lee, senior vice president of creative marketing at NBCUniversal, explained the strategy. “NBA player introductions have always played a big role in getting the arena crowd — and the people watching at home — excited for the game. Given NBC Sports’ legacy of celebrating player intros, we decided to have some fun and showcase the formidable lineup of NBA stars who will be part of the NBC and Peacock broadcast team, much to the confusion of Shai, Jalen, and Chet of the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.”The Thunder’s banner-raising ceremony only sharpens the narrative edge. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will present the team with its first rings before the franchise unfurls its championship banner, directly in front of Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. The scheduling twist forces Durant, who once defined the Thunder but never delivered them a title, to watch Oklahoma City celebrate its ultimate breakthrough.
High-stakes matchups mark NBA’s return to NBC and Peacock
The Oct. 21 doubleheader is built for maximum draw. After the Rockets-Thunder clash, the Golden State Warriors meet the Los Angeles Lakers in a heavyweight matchup featuring Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic.Curry and James will share the floor for the 53rd time. Yet Doncic could command the spotlight. The Lakers’ new star enters in peak form after a viral summer at EuroBasket, where he has carried Slovenia with dominant scoring and a fitter frame.Also Read: “You finally got a haircut!”- Dwyane Wade pokes fun at LeBron James at 2025 Hall of Fame ceremonyNBC is betting heavily on these storylines and the star power of its broadcast team. With an estimated $2.5 billion per year invested, the network will air 100 regular-season games, the All-Star Game, and exclusive playoff coverage.