LeBron and Lakers lead NBA schedule in national TV games; Warriors, Celtics and Knicks in top 5 | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

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NBA fans will have many opportunities to see the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2024/25 season.

With 39 games, the Lakers top the list of nationally televised games in the 2024–25 season, followed by the Golden State Warriors with 36 games.

Brett Siegel @BoardSealNBA

Number of national TV games for the 2024–25 NBA season (including ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV games):
AT: 8
BOS: 34
BKN: 5
CHA: 7
CHI: 5
CLE: 16
DAL: 30
DEN: 29
DET: 4
GVW: 36
HAU: 11
IND: 14
LAC: 21
LAL: 39
Number of participants: 17
Missing: 13
MIL: 27
MIN: 25
NOP: 13
NYC: 34
Number of OKC: 25
Hearing loss: 9
PHI: 27…

The New York Knicks and defending champion Boston Celtics each have 34, while the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns each have 30.

The San Antonio Spurs also have a respectable number of nationally televised games with 21 games, despite a dismal 22-60 record in the 2023-24 season and is due to the presence of Victor Wembanyama, the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year.

The Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers have the fewest number of domestic games with 4 each.

Tim Reynolds from the Related Press reported that the average number of back-to-backs has increased starting in 2023-24. Additionally, the schedule will not feature 4-in-5, 8-in-12 or 18-in-30 periods for teams and that “high-profile national TV games” will be preceded and followed by off days.

Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds

The NBA schedule is here. Some information:
– Average number of back-to-backs: 14.9. More than last year, 23% less than ten years ago.
– No 4-in-5 nights, no 8-in-12 nights, no 18-in-30 nights.
– This season, teams will not play the day before or after “high-profile, nationally televised games.”

The Lakers finished 47-35 and fell in the first round of the playoffs, leading to the firing of head coach Darvin Ham and the franchise has some notable storylines heading into the new season.

JJ Redick will begin his first coaching stint as the team's head coach in the 2024-25 season, and James will form the first father-son duo in NBA history when he plays alongside his son Bronny.

The Warriors missed the 2023-24 postseason and lost Klay Thompson as a free agent, but the new season will be one to watch as the team rebuilds around its aging core.

The Knicks have signed Mikal Bridges and re-signed OG Anunoby to continue their climb in the Eastern Conference, while the Celtics aim to become the first repeat champions since the Warriors in 2016-17 and 2017-18.