After the NBA released its official and detailed schedule last weekend, fans quickly pointed out the team receiving the most television exposure among the 30 clubs participating in the league. Across four major national television channels in the U.S. – ESPN, TNT, ABC, and NBA TV – the Los Angeles Lakers will be featured in 39 of the total 82 regular-season games broadcasted on these networks.

Following closely behind the Lakers are the Golden State Warriors with 36 games. The reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, will have 34 games, as will the New York Knicks. Since LeBron James joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2019, the team has consistently ranked among the top two in terms of national television appearances.

However, the 2024-25 season will mark the first time the Lakers secure the top spot. In contrast, the Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, and Toronto Raptors are at the bottom of the list, each with only four nationally televised games.

For NBA fans in the U.S., national television broadcasts are the easiest way to follow the league without paying for monthly streaming services. The prominence of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors is largely due to the presence of the league’s two biggest stars, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, as well as the large fan bases of these teams.

Despite this high visibility, many experts predict that the Lakers may not have a successful season. Contrary to the league-wide “arms race,” the Lakers have made no significant summer signings, which means their roster quality remains largely unchanged. As noted, “Since their core lineup remains almost the same, the Lakers will maintain continuity. However, this is also a drawback as the weaknesses from last season have not been addressed.”

The Lakers have even taken a step back by losing key players, notably Taurean Prince, a three-point shooter with strong defensive abilities. The Los Angeles Lakers’ season will officially start on the morning of October 23 with an away game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. They will then face the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings in back-to-back games on October 26 and 27.