NBC Unveils Star-Studded NBA Analyst Team Amid Thunder Stars’ Surprising Reaction

The NBA’s grand return to NBC and Peacock kicks off October 21 with a stacked lineup of commentary heavyweights — Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller, Grant Hill, and Jamal Crawford. It’s the kind of star-studded crew that guarantees insightful analysis and captivating game-day energy. On this special night, as Oklahoma City celebrates by raising its very first championship banner, the league’s brightest young stars—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren—step into the spotlight, only to have their moments intercepted by NBC’s savvy broadcast team, with Mike Tirico calling the action. The season opener isn’t just a game; it’s a doubleheader jam-packed with storylines, from the Thunder receiving their championship rings in front of none other than Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, setting up an electrifying clash, to a coast-to-coast showdown where Stephen Curry’s Warriors face off against LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and the Lakers — a rivalry filled with history, drama, and fresh narratives, especially with Doncic’s breakout form this summer. Trust me, the slate is as robust as any, and with NBC’s all-star panel breaking it all down, it’s a can’t-miss night for basketball aficionados. LEARN MORE

The NBA comes home to NBC and Peacock on Oct. 21 — and our starting lineup of analysts can hang with anyone: Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Reggie Miller, Grant Hill and Jamal Crawford.

In a clever new promo for the Oct. 21 NBA season opener on NBC and Peacock — on the night Oklahoma City will raise its first banner — Thunder stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren get their introductions interupped by the NBC crew (including lead play-by-play guy Mike Tirico).

The NBA season tips off on Oct. 21 on NBC and Peacock with a must-watch double header.

First, the Oklahoma City Thunder get their championship rings from Adam Silver and then raise their championship banner — right in front of Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. It was a cold twist by the league schedulers to make Durant — arguably the greatest player ever to wear a Thunder jersey, but a guy who was unable to lift them to a title — the Thunder’s foil for this game. This is also a showdown of two contenders and the top two seeds in the Western Conference last year (and they very well could finish 1-2 again this season).

In the second game of the night, the stars come out: Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors travel down the coast to take on LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers. This will be the 53rd time LeBron and Curry have faced off, and that includes some of the most memorable games of the last decade, including some NBA Finals showdowns. That said, more eyes may be on Luka Doncic, the Lakers’ future and a player who went viral this summer after getting in the best shape of his career — consider it a break-up revenge body with the Mavericks after they questioned his commitment and conditioning on the way out the door last February — and has shown it off at EuroBasket, where he leads the tournament in scoring and has Slovenia into the quarterfinals.

It’s a strong lineup of games — and NBC has the Hall of Fame lineup of analysts to break it all down.