ESPN Secures Exclusive 2-Night 2026 NBA Draft Broadcast From Barclays Center

3 articles · Updated · ESPN Press Room · Jun 18

June 23-24 coverage will air exclusively across ESPN platforms from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, extending ESPN’s NBA Draft run to 24 straight years.
Round 1 will get two separate TV presentations: ESPN starts at 7 p.m. ET with pick-by-pick analysis, while ABC begins at 8 p.m. with feature-driven storytelling on top prospects.
Malika Andrews will anchor ESPN’s telecasts with Jay Bilas, Tim Legler, Andraya Carter, Bobby Marks and Shams Charania on night one, then return for the second round on June 24.
ESPN is also expanding draft-week programming with a June 22 preview show, a two-hour NBA Today draft special, red-carpet coverage and Hoop Streams’ first on-site Round 1 stream.
National audio coverage will run on ESPN Radio both nights, while the broader rollout underscores ESPN’s push to distribute the draft across TV, radio, social platforms and the ESPN App.