The newly renamed “NBA Cup” could move back a couple of weeks if Amazon acquires rights. Plus: NFL Network has set the return date for “Good Morning Football” and ESPN’s Marty Smith could be in the mix for a role on Prime Video and TNT Sports NASCAR coverage.
NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) could shift dates if Amazon wins rights
The NBA Cup — formerly known as the NBA In-Season Tournament — could shift from its current November-December timeframe to December-January after Amazon takes over as the broadcaster in the 2025-26 season, Tom Friend of Sports Business Journal reported over the weekend. The move would push the semifinals and finals past the end of Amazon’s Thursday Night Football schedule.
This year’s NBA Cup is set to run from November 12 through December 14, with games again taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays. In a shift, the semifinals are set for Saturday, December 14 and the final for Tuesday, December 17. Last season’s semifinals took place on a Thursday — which necessitated a 5 PM ET start on a workday — and the final on a Saturday night on ABC. One can assume that this year’s semifinals would air on ABC and the final on TNT.
It is not clear whether the NBA Cup would still move in the event that Warner Bros. Discovery is successful in its expected effort to match Amazon’s bid for NBA rights.
Good Morning Football to return in two weeks
The NFL Network morning show “Good Morning Football” is set to return on July 29 with returning hosts Jamie Erdahl, Peter Schrager and Kyle Brandt, the league announced Monday. The show has been on hiatus since March — save for a special NFL Draft edition — in order to facilitate its relocation from New York City to Los Angeles.
Erdahl will host from Los Angeles, while Schrager and Brandt will split time between L.A. and New York.
Sherree Burruss and former NFL DE Akbar Gbajabiamila are also joining the show, the latter marking his return to NFL Network after a five-year absence.
As previously reported, “Good Morning Football” will expand with a syndicated version starting this season titled “GMFB: Overtime.” The show will air on Roku Channel starting July 29 and will also be syndicated on local broadcast affiliates beginning Labor Day.
ESPN’s Marty Smith in talks for NASCAR role on Prime, WBD
ESPN reporter Marty Smith, who covered NASCAR for the network until it lost rights after the 2014 season, has held discussions with Prime Video and Warner Bros. Discovery about joining their NASCAR broadcasts next season, Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal reported last week. Smith’s potential role could include either hosting or play-by-play.
Prime and WBD have already acquired Dale Earnhardt Jr. for their respective Cup Series packages next season, which will total ten midseason races. Per SBJ, the networks have also held talks with NBC’s Steve Letarte and are said to be interested in Adam Alexander of Fox Sports.
