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Inside the NBA on ESPN: Shaquille O'Neal takes shot at NBC, Peacock in debut

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax10/22/25BarkleyTruax
Shaq Swift
Brent N. Clarke/Getty Images

The 2025-26 NBA season tipped off on Tuesday night with a thrilling double overtime game between the Thunder and Rockets, as well as a road win for the Warriors over the Lakers. According to Shaquille O’Neil — the real NBA season begins on Wednesday with its double-header on ESPN.

“This is the real opening night,” Shaq said to open Inside the NBA’s debut on ESPN. “The boys are back in town. Yesterday was still the preseason — this is the real opening night. Don’t get it twisted, the boys are back. … Peacock? This is the real opening night. Don’t forget who we are.”

Shaq’s shot comes after the NBA returned to NBC for the first time in over two decades. The partnership, which will span across 11 seasons, aired the first two games of the NBA’s regular season while ESPN get’s night two’s double-header between the Cavaliers and Knicks followed by the Spurs vs. Mavericks.

The first matchup features two playoff teams from last season in the Eastern Conference, while the second will showcase the No. 1 overall pick in the last two years — Victor Wembanyama for San Antonio and Cooper Flagg for Dallas.

This comes following an agreement this offseason that will gain the NBA roughly $76 billion over that 11-year span. Now, Disney (ABC and ESPN), Comcast (NBA and Peacock) and Amazon will be airing all nationally televised NBA games through the 2035-36 season.

However, NBC is investing a lot into their new deal with the NBA, and they’ll be featuring marquee games often over the coming seasons. Each Monday, Peacock will air the NBA’s doubleheader every week. NBC will then air two games on regional affiliates on Tuesdays. ESPN and ABC will own Wednesday and Thursdays, as well as Saturdays, while Amazon occupies Fridays and Saturdays.

Once Sunday Night Football is over in January, NBC will air prime time NBA games during that time slot. In turn, this should get more eyes on the NBA than ever before.

However, with their show no longer on its longtime home of TNT, Shaq, Ernie, Chuck and Kenny are on the ESPN side of things now. Thus, Wednesday’s season-opening matchups on ESPN are the true season openers in his eyes.

Tip-off between the Cavs and Knicks is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Spurs vs. Mavericks is set for 9:30 p.m. ET with analysis of each game before provided by the crew of Inside the NBA.