This isn’t the NBA on NBC, but meet ABC’s Saturday night NBA!
While injuries have still been plaguing league over the last 5 years with national games, many avid basketball fans like us are still in need of flex scheduling. ESPN is looking to generated buzz on their national network ABC and have failed in recent years with their Sunday Showcase (see: Lakers, Thunder & Bulls injuries). Beginning January 23, 2016, ABC will begin their test run for the Saturday Night NBA series, which will last for 8 weeks.
Fans of the double-header showcasing on Sundays for the hardwood will be out of luck, as the introduction of Saturday games will be replacing it – effectively immediately. ABC and ESPN will air games now up to four times a week on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Fresh from the most-watched NBA Finals in the history of ABC, the success of Saturday Night Football on ABC has led to the NBA looking to capture the winter and early spring sports viewers with both Saturday Night NBA on ABC and NBA Sunday Showcase.
Take a look at the full unfinished schedule below.
NBA on ABC schedule – 2015-16 regular-season
Date Time (ET) Broadcast
Fri., Dec. 25 2:30 p.m. NBA on Christmas Day
Fri., Dec. 25 5 p.m. NBA on Christmas Day
Sat., Jan. 23 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sat., Jan. 30 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sun., Jan. 31 3:30 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sun., Feb. 7 2 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sat., Feb. 20 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sun., Feb. 21 3:30 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sat., Feb. 27 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sat., Mar. 5 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sun., Mar. 6 3:30 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sat., Mar. 12 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sun., Mar. 13 3:30 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sat., Mar. 19 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
Sun., Apr. 3 3:30 p.m. NBA Sunday Showcase
Sat., Apr. 9 8:30 p.m. Saturday Night NBA
NBA Countdown will precede NBA Sunday Showcase games, generally, at 3PM
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