For the first sustained chunk of time in two full decades, rooting for the New York Knicks is a generally rewarding endeavor. After what’s felt like a lifetime of ignominy, the Jalen Brunson-led Knicks are winning games and fun to watch. Cue the music!
Brunson is balling at an All-NBA level. Karl-Anthony Towns has unlocked an evolved offense. The Garden is perpetually rocking. The bings are bonging. And Tom Thibodeau looks … whatever his version of enthused is.
Here’s the thing: It’s a cool time to be a Knicks fan, but it’s never been harder to actually watch the team. Basketball’s evolving labyrinth of broadcast and streaming options has understandably caused a lot of confusion and frustration. Then we have to factor in the league’s regional blackout rules — and the contentious fact that most cable providers or streaming services do not get MSG Networks.
Consider this your guide to making sense of it all or refreshing your memory on the broadcast rotations. It gets wonky, but if Knicks fans can make it through the Jerome James and Andrea Bargnani eras, they’re all but indefatigable.
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The lowdown on MSG Networks
Let’s start with the less straightforward part, and we’ll get to the more familiar primetime NBA details further down.
Non-primetime Knicks games go through the aptly named MSG Networks. This local broadcast is where the team routinely shines among the best in basketball. Mike Breen takes the heavyweight bouts on ABC and ESPN, but he’s also the voice of the Knicks, hosting play-by-play TV duties since the 1997-98 season. His presence can make a weeknight game against the Hornets feel massive and regal.
When Breen has a national obligation, it goes to another renowned voice — Kenny Albert, son of Basketball Hall of Famer and longtime New York sportscaster Marv Albert.
On color commentary, MSG has the one-of-a-kind Walt “Clyde” Frazier. The dynamic point guard of the Knicks’ two championship runs, Frazier is a singular style icon in paisley suits and suede shoes. And he turns a phrase like no one else in the basketball universe. Why say a team is moving the ball well when he can say they’re “dishing and swishing” instead? Teams that win off the glass are “bounding and astounding.” When a player’s feeling himself, he’s “styling and profiling.” Dunking becomes “stuffing with alacrity,” and rookies are “precocious neophytes.” It’s all downright delightful.
The less fun stuff comes with actually accessing the network. Knicks owner James Dolan is the executive chairman of MSG. Sizable carrier fees and exclusivity squabbles have boxed out many tri-state TV providers.
How to watch regional Knicks broadcasts in-market
As of this calendar year, precious few carriers come equipped with MSG Network. Optimum (owned by Altice USA) became the latest casualty, which prompted a statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James:
“As two major corporations engage in contract talks, the people who are impacted the most are everyday New Yorkers who simply want to watch sports and enjoy television programming. Altice, which owns Optimum, and MSG Networks, which provides sports coverage for some of New York’s favorite sports teams, are struggling to reach a final agreement, and consumers who expect the programming and games they paid for are the ones missing out.”
Altice has blamed MSG’s inflexibly-high carrier fees, while MSG has accused Altice of price-gouging customers. A similar standoff forced Comcast to drop the network in 2021.
As it stands, Spectrum and Verizon Fios still carry MSG Networks. Only two live TV streaming options have it — DirectTV Stream and Fubo, with the latter offering a deal to current Optimum subscribers who now find themselves locked out of local broadcasts.
If you don’t have Fubo, DirectTV, Spectrum or Verizon Fios and have no interest or capacity in switching providers, your next option will be (sigh) another new subscription service called Gotham Sports — which has the MSG and YES Networks that host the Knicks, Nets, Yankees, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres. Gotham is charging $359.99 for a complete annual pass, but those seeking just MSG for Knicks games can pay either $29.99 monthly or $279.99 annually.
How to watch regional Knicks broadcasts out-of-market
If you’re a New York expat — or any sort of global citizen who somehow caught Knicks fandom — you’ll be able to watch all the regional games via NBA League Pass. That starts at $16.99 per month, but getting the package right now in the middle of the season goes for $9.99 monthly.
How to watch nationally-televised Knicks games
In general, if you know ball, you already associate days of the week with channel acronyms. Tuesdays and Thursdays are on TNT, Wednesdays and Fridays mean ESPN and weekends go to ABC. For the uninitiated or the forgetful, here’s everything to consider for New York’s primetime looks.
ABC
This is your Saturday night or Sunday afternoon weekend headliner. It’s the network that first broadcasted NBA games back in 1965, and it’s the home of the Finals come June. Breen, of course, is the sport’s gold standard for play-by-play — his “bang” call codifies superstars and trumpets historic moments. Doris Burke (who also got her start on MSG) is his reliable pick-and-roll partner. Other rotating broadcasters include Ryan Ruocco, Mark Jones, Dave Pasch and Michael Grady. The ABC showcase begins with a triple-header on Saturday, Jan. 25. It runs through Mar. 16.
What you need to watch these games: A broadcast antenna will suffice, though ABC is also available on any cable provider or streaming service.
ESPN/ESPN2
Because these are Disney properties, like ABC, you can catch Breen and company here, too. But ESPN usually does Wednesday and Friday games, preceding those broadcasts with NBA Countdown. That’s where you’ll often see Stephen A. Smith do his uniquely Stephen A. Smith thing and where former pro players like Richard Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins and Chiney Ogwumike make the rounds.
What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers have these channels. You can also subscribe to ESPN+, Disney+ or Hulu via add-on.
TNT
Your Tuesday and Thursday action. These broadcasts open with the always-entertaining, sometimes-absurd “Inside the NBA” … until the end of this season, at least. Its parent company (Warner Bros. Discovery) will license the Shaq-Chuck staple to ESPN next fall as part of the league’s new 11-year media deal. Ernie Johnson has hosted TNT’s studio show since 1990. Kevin Harlan, Ian Eagle, Brian Anderson and Spero Dedes are among those on play-by-play, and analysts include Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy, Grant Hill and Candace Parker.
What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers include TNT. Otherwise, some games are available on Max via B/R Sports add-on.
NBA TV
If you’re out of market, you’ll get a few Knicks games here. NBA TV is owned by the league and features in-house programming like “Hardwood Classics” and career retrospectives. But the actual live games on NBA TV are simulcast from the home team’s local broadcast. There’s usually a game here whenever the national partners don’t have anything.
What you need to watch these games: Most cable providers offer NBA TV, though some require paying more for it. It’s available as part of a League Pass subscription, and the NBA also offers NBATV as a standalone channel for $8.99/month. It’s also available via Fubo or Prime Video via add-on.
What’s changing in the fall of 2025
Starting with the 2025-26 campaign, the NBA will have new national TV partners. Disney re-upped, meaning that ESPN and ABC stay in the mix. But Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT) is out in favor of Comcast (NBC/Peacock) and Amazon (Prime Video). As part of a recent legal settlement, TNT will still retain global rights outside the United States and will license “Inside the NBA” to Disney.
Going forward, the league will have national broadcasts all seven days of the week. Peacock will yield a Monday doubleheader, while NBC affiliates will air Tuesday games. ESPN will have its usual Wednesday action. Prime will now have NBA games on Thursdays — following the conclusion of its Thursday Night Football programming — and a pair of Friday night showcases.
Saturdays will still be on ABC. And the weekend will conclude on Sundays with NBC games once “Sunday Night Football” is over.
(Photo by G Fiume / Getty Images)