NBC Sports has added Carmelo Anthony to its on-air team ahead of the network’s return to NBA broadcasting in the 2025–26 season, according to Sports Media Watch.
The announcement came during NBC’s Kentucky Derby coverage on Saturday. Anthony, a 10-time NBA All-Star and 2021 scoring champion, will serve as a studio analyst. It marks his first role in sports broadcasting since retiring from professional basketball in 2023.
Anthony is expected to work one or more days each week during the season. He is the first official studio hire for NBC’s NBA coverage, joining previously announced talent Mike Tirico, Noah Eagle, Jamal Crawford, and Reggie Miller.
NBC will regain NBA broadcast rights after a 23-year absence under a new 11-year media rights agreement finalized in July 2024. The deal, valued at approximately $2.5 billion annually, runs through the 2035–36 season and includes 100 regular-season games, the All-Star Game, and extensive playoff coverage.
Under the agreement, NBC will air games on Sunday nights following the NFL season, on Tuesdays, and host a Monday night doubleheader exclusively on Peacock. At least half of NBC’s playoff games will be shown on its broadcast network, with the rest available on Peacock.
The deal also marks the end of TNT’s nearly four-decade-long partnership with the league. The 2024–25 campaign will be TNT’s final season of NBA coverage, as Warner Bros. Discovery was unable to match competing bids from Amazon and NBCUniversal.
Anthony’s addition comes as NBC looks to build a roster blending experienced broadcasters with former players. Tirico will serve as lead play-by-play announcer, returning to NBA duties after his prior work with ESPN and ABC.
