Martin Luther King Day will see the NBA honor one of the most significant figures in American history with eight games to celebrate the Civil Rights activist. But who is playing and what are the details you need?
MLK Day commemorates the efforts of the pastor leader in his quest to end racism and the Jim Crow Laws through non-violent civil disobedience in the 1950s and 1960s, until he was assassinated in 1968.
King organized rallies and marches to call for rights to vote, desegregation and working rights for African Americans across the United States, leading to his infamous I Have A Dream speech in 1963 at the Abraham Lincoln memorial in Washington DC.
The 39-year-old was also an influential figure in organizing the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965, despite the Civil Rights Act being passed a year earlier, demonstrating his humanitarianism and activism.
King was subject to prison terms and blackmail from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as they tried to shut his pro-black activism down. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and also began incorporating anti-war and anti-poverty politics into his movements.
He was assassinated in 1968 whilst organizing another protest movement. A man shot him in Memphis, Tennessee and was later jailed. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2003.
What is the schedule and times for the NBA Games on MLK Day 2025?
To honor the iconic figure, the NBA organizes games on MLK Day and will do so again in 2025, with eight matches scheduled for the federal national holiday on Monday, January 20.
They will coincide with the inauguration of the next president, as well as the college football national championship game.
- Dallas Mavericks @ Charlotte Hornets. 12:00 ET/09:00 PT. Watch: NBA TV.
- Detroit Pistons @ Houston Rockets. 14:00 ET/11:00 PT. Watch: NBA League Pass.
- Minnesota Timberwolves @ Memphis Grizzlies. 14:30 ET/11:30 PT. Watch: TNT.
- Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks. 15:00 ET/12:00 PT. Watch: NBA League Pass.
- Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers. 15:30 ET/12:30 PT. Watch: NBA League Pass.
- Boston Celtics @ Golden State Warriors. 17:00 ET/14:00 PT. Watch: TNT.
- Utah Jazz @ New Orleans Pelicans. 20:00 ET/17:00 PT. Watch: NBA League Pass.
- Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Clippers. 22:30 ET/19:30 PT. Watch: NBA League Pass.
Where to watch the NBA Games on MLK Day 2025?
Fans can catch all of the NBA Games on Martin Luther King Day in 2025 across multiple different broadcasters.
The NBA will provide coverage through NBA TV and the League Pass options, whilst further coverage will be provided by TNT Sports.