NBC Sports is set to launch "Basketball Night in America," a brand-new on-location studio program, alongside the premiere of its "Sunday Night Basketball" series on February 1, 2026. The network announced this plan in a press release on Monday, also revealing that Lenny Kravitz will perform the opening segment of the show.
“Basketball Night in America” will be broadcast every Sunday night on NBC and Peacock, serving as a lead-in to the weekly NBA game coverage. This hour-long studio show will be broadcast live from the sites of the games, following a format similar to that of NBC’s "Football Night in America," which broadcast from the Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers game earlier this year. The "Sunday Night Basketball" premiere will include a doubleheader: the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the New York Knicks at 7 p.m. Eastern, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the Denver Nuggets at 9:30 p.m.
Maria Taylor will be the host of “Basketball Night in America.” NBC had previously announced her as the lead studio host for their NBA and WNBA coverage back in June. Taylor also anchors "Football Night in America" and "Big Ten College Countdown," and she has experience with NBC’s on-site studio formats.
NBC’s complete NBA broadcast team includes Mike Tirico and Noah Eagle on play-by-play, with Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as analysts. Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Austin Rivers, and Brian Scalabrine make up the studio team. Grant Liffman and Chris Mannix will act as insiders, and Michael Jordan is expected to appear as a special contributor. According to the press release, “Basketball Night in America” will air each Sunday night on NBC and Peacock, leading into weekly NBA game coverage.
Kravitz, a four-time Grammy Award winner, will perform the show’s opening segment. The musician has sold 50 million albums worldwide and just dropped his twelfth studio album, Blue Electric Light. He is currently touring the globe and has previously been involved in film, fashion, and design.
NBC Sports will broadcast up to 100 NBA games this season, which includes coverage on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, as well as the NBA Playoffs and All-Star Weekend. After its debut on February 1, the "Sunday Night Basketball" schedule will take a break on February 8 and 15 for the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Game, and the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Coverage will resume on February 22 and run through April 5. Photo courtesy of NBC Sports.