The NBA is set to start the 2025-26 season tonight with a pair of primetime Western Conference battles featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets, before the Golden State Warriors battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the late-night window. Fans are expected to flock back to Madison Square Garden tomorrow night as the New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET to begin the 2025-26 NBA season.
Ernie and the guys are back. The 21-time Emmy Award-winning "Inside the NBA" studio show -- featuring Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith -- returns as the pregame, halftime and postgame show for ESPN and ABC's NBA coverage during the 2025-26 season. "Inside the NBA," which will continue to be produced by TNT Sports from its Atlanta studios, will begin one hour before tipoff for games airing on ESPN,
Before James' post, the least-expensive ticket for the April 12, 2026, game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena started at $82. After James' post, prices spiked, with single tickets starting at $580 each, per Vivid Seats. For two tickets to the Jazz-Lakers matchup, the cheapest get-in price starts at $760. The ticket-price surge occurred as fans speculated that this could be James' last season.