Honestly, it feels like the NBA season just started, but we're already staring down the barrel of the postseason. If you're wondering when's the next NBA championship game, the short answer is June 4, 2026. That's when Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off.
It’s been a wild ride so far this season. We've seen the New York Knicks actually look like a powerhouse, taking home the NBA Cup back in December. We’ve seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder basically treat the Western Conference like their personal playground. But the regular season is just the appetizer. The real drama starts in April, and it all leads to that June date where the Larry O'Brien Trophy is finally hoisted.
The 2026 NBA Finals Schedule: Mark Your Calendar
The league doesn't mess around with the schedule. They want those primetime slots on lockdown. While the exact matchups are still a mystery—though Vegas has some very loud opinions on it—the dates for the 2026 NBA Finals are largely set in stone.
- Game 1: Thursday, June 4
- Game 2: Sunday, June 7 (roughly, though some sources lean toward June 8)
- Game 3: Wednesday, June 10
- Game 4: Friday, June 12
- Game 5 (if needed): Monday, June 15
- Game 6 (if needed): Thursday, June 18
- Game 7 (if needed): Sunday, June 21
You're looking at a three-week window where sleep becomes optional for die-hard fans. The games are usually going to air on ABC, but with the new media deals kicking in, you'll see a lot more presence from platforms like Peacock and Amazon Prime Video throughout the earlier rounds of the playoffs.
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The Road to the Finals: It’s a Long Way to June
You can't just jump to the championship game without survive the gauntlet. The 2025-26 regular season wraps up on April 12, 2026. Every single one of the 30 teams plays that day. It’s chaos.
Then we hit the SoFi Play-In Tournament from April 14 to April 17. This is where the 7th through 10th seeds fight for their lives. If you're a fan of a "bubble" team, these four days are basically heart-attack central. The actual NBA Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The schedule moves fast.
- First Round: April 18 – Early May
- Conference Semifinals: Starting around May 4-5
- Conference Finals: Slated for late May (expect May 19 or 20 for the start)
Who are the Heavy Hitters this Year?
If you're looking for a safe bet for when's the next NBA championship game, you're probably looking at the Oklahoma City Thunder. They are the defending champs, and they aren't slowing down. Shai is playing at an MVP level, Chet Holmgren is a defensive nightmare, and Jalen Williams has taken that "leap" everyone talks about.
Vegas has them as massive favorites at +110. That's absurdly low for this time of year.
But don't count out the East. The Knicks have been the surprise of the year, winning the mid-season NBA Cup and currently leading the charge for the Eastern Conference crown. Then you have the San Antonio Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is no longer a "prospect"—he's a problem. The Spurs are hovering around +1200 to win it all, which is a huge jump from where they started the season.
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How to Watch the Next NBA Championship Game
TV rights are a bit different this year. If you're trying to find the game, here's the deal:
- NBA Finals: Exclusively on ABC.
- Playoffs: A mix of ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video.
- Streaming: Peacock and Disney+ (via ESPN) will be your best friends.
Basically, if you have a standard cable package or a solid streaming sub, you're good. But for the Finals, it’s the old-school ABC broadcast that still reigns supreme.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning to follow the road to the 2026 championship, start by syncing your calendar to April 12. That’s the "Point of No Return" for the regular season. If your team isn't in a top-6 spot by then, prepare for the stress of the Play-In. For those looking to attend a Finals game, tickets usually go on presale in late May once the conference champions are crowned. Keep an eye on official team sites rather than secondary markets early on to avoid the 300% markup.
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Check your local listings for the exact tip-off times as we get closer to June 4, as the NBA loves to tweak those 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM ET starts based on the matchup locations.