NBC Sports Will Deploy a Pair of Dedicated Analysts ‘On the Bench’ for Peacock NBA Monday Games
NBC will dedicate one analyst to each team and position that analyst courtside with their team,
Story Highlights
NBC Sports is aiming to bring NBA fans closer to the hardcourt action than ever before with its new “On the Bench” production element exclusively for games streaming on Peacock NBA Monday. NBC will dedicate one analyst to each team and position that analyst courtside with their team, allowing each commentator to cover the game through the lens of the team they’re assigned.
An industry first, “On the Bench” will be used exclusively for the 23 Peacock NBA Monday games this season. Rather than sitting next to the play-by-play voice, the analysts will be positioned near the assistant coaches of their assigned team during the action, listening in on huddles and timeouts, and delivering information straight from the bench. Each analyst will also be immersed with their team leading up to the game, spending time at shootarounds, and speaking with players and coaches during pregame locker room availability.
“Never before has a game featured an analyst dedicated exclusively to each team with such unparalleled access,” says Sam Flood, Executive Producer, NBC Sports. “Each analyst will be dedicated to telling the story of the game through the lens of their team. At the same time, we will respect the sanctity of the inside information our analysts are able to hear but will always strive to give the audience unique insights that only this type of access can provide. We’re grateful to the NBA and its teams for their vision and faith in our ability to provide this first-of-its-kind coverage.”
“On the Bench” will debut on Peacock NBA Monday beginning Oct. 27 when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. ET. NBC Sports NBA play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle will call the action with Robbie Hummel and Austin Rivers as analysts. Hummel will be dedicated to the Pistons, while Rivers will be immersed with the Cavaliers.
“On the Bench” joins a plethora of intuitive and interactive features set to debut on Peacock’s NBA streaming experience this October, including “Peacock Performance View,” a viewing mode providing fans with on-screen stats and data, and “Peacock ScoreCard,” a first-of-its-kind, real-time streaming experience that is NBC calls “bingo meets fantasy sports” and will be available on TV and mobile, alongside existing features Can’t Miss Highlights on mobile and Catch Up with Key Plays. “Courtside Live,” a new feature coming in the second half of the season, will allow fans to watch the game through unique insider angles.
“On the Bench” also continues NBC Sports’ history of immersive innovations, including “Inside-the-Glass” for hockey coverage, the Peacock Pit Box for NASCAR, and the “Inside the Race” motorcycle position for cycling coverage. During the 2022-23 seasons, MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock featured a unique three-announcer broadcast booth with one analyst with expertise in each team joining the play-by-play voice.
NBC SPORTS’ “ON THE BENCH” SCHEDULE ON PEACOCK NBA MONDAY
All games stream live on Peacock
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
| Mon., Oct. 27 | Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 3 | Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 10 | Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 17 | Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Nov. 24 | Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Dec. 1 | Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 8 | Sacramento Kings at Indiana Pacers | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Dec. 15 | TBD | TBD |
| Mon., Dec. 22 | Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., Dec. 29 | Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers | 11 p.m. |
| Mon., Jan. 5 | Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers | 8:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Jan. 12 | Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Jan. 19 | Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons | 8 p.m. |
| Mon., Jan. 26 | Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Feb. 2 | Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mon., Feb. 9 | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers | 10 p.m. |
| Mon., Feb. 23 | San Antonio Spurs at Detroit Pistons | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., March 2 | Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mon., March 9 | Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder | 7:30 p.m. |
| Mon., March 16 | Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., March 23 | Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks | 9:30 p.m. |
| Mon., March 30 | Philadelphia 76ers at Miami Heat | 7 p.m. |
| Mon., April 6 | New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks | 7 p.m. |
This season, NBC Sports will present 100 regular-season NBA games — including five games each week for portions of the season — with consistent coverage on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, plus All-Star Weekend and the NBA Playoffs. For NBC Sports’ complete 2025-26 NBA regular-season schedule, click here.
Starting Oct. 27, Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three NBA games nationwide on Monday nights throughout the regular season. A 30-minute studio program will lead into game coverage each Monday night.
Following NBA Tip-Off on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will begin on Oct. 28 and present doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be presented to NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game to NBC stations in the Pacific and Mountain time zones. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. A 30-minute studio program will lead into coverage each week on Peacock.
After Sunday Night Football and NFL playoff coverage concludes in 2026, NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. This year, Sunday Night Basketball will pause on Feb. 8 and Feb. 15, 2026, due to NBC Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LX, the NBA All-Star Game, and the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. It will resume on Feb. 22 and run through April 5. Sunday nights will occasionally feature doubleheaders. A one-hour, on-site studio program will lead into game coverage each week on NBC and Peacock.
