The 2025-26 NBA season tips off with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Oct. 21, when the NBA returns to NBC and debuts on Peacock. The Oklahoma City Thunder hosts the Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Golden State Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).

With the NBA expanding pro basketball outside of the United States and Canada, more and more games are taking place overseas to court fans from different countries. The league now travels to Mexico for NBA Mexico City Game.

Watching the NBA is very different this season and more difficult than in the past. Here's what you need to know.

While NBA Cup games broadcast on TV across NBC and ESPN, the in-season tournament can also be streamed on web-based streaming cable services — like DirecTV, Fubo and Hulu + Live TV — some of which even offer free trials. Games are also streamable on Prime Video and Peacock.