Maria Taylor will anchor NBC’s new NBA studio show, fronting Tuesday nights on Peacock when the league returns to the network this October. She’ll also lead Sunday coverage from January, once the NFL season wraps.
Taylor will be joined by former NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter. Both are new to regular studio work but bring strong name recognition. The format marks NBC’s first in-house NBA studio team since losing broadcast rights in 2002.
The network has also confirmed Taylor’s expanded role will include select WNBA broadcasts beginning spring 2026. Her exit from Big Ten College Countdown, which she launched for NBC last year, clears the runway for basketball to take top priority.
Taylor joined NBC in 2021 after a high-profile departure from ESPN. She has since become one of the network’s most visible presenters, hosting NFL studio shows, Olympic ceremonies and major event coverage. Her NBA role cements her as the face of NBC’s new basketball strategy, with the network opting for a stable, high-trust presence as it re-establishes its stake in the space.
NBC’s broader rollout will lean heavily on legacy branding. Roundball Rock is returning as the official theme, and longtime voiceover announcer Jim Fagan will be digitally recreated using AI for promotional materials.
NBC’s NBA package will air Tuesdays exclusively on Peacock, then expand to broadcast Sundays in 2025, as part of the league’s new media rights deal.
Meta: NBC Sports names Maria Taylor as its lead NBA studio host. Carmelo Anthony and Vince Carter join the Tuesday night team as the network readies its first NBA slate in over two decades.
