Trail Blazers Return to KGW for First National Broadcast Since 2017 Against Suns

The Portland Trail Blazers tipped off their 2025-26 season in dramatic fashion on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, hosting the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon — and for the first time in eight years, it was broadcast live on KGW (NBC Channel 8). The 8:00 PM Pacific time matchup wasn’t just another game. It was a homecoming. A return to the network that once carried Blazers basketball into Oregon living rooms before vanishing after the 2016-17 season. The game streamed nationally on Peacock, marking the team’s first national TV appearance of the season and a clear signal: Portland’s basketball renaissance is back in the spotlight.

A Broadcast Homecoming After Eight Years

The last time the Blazers aired on KGW was in 2017, when Damian Lillard was still early in his prime and the team was a consistent playoff contender. Since then, local broadcasts shifted to the Rip City Television Network, while national exposure dwindled to just one game per season — both featuring Lillard as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks. That changed this year. With Lillard back in Portland and the team showing unexpected depth, the NBA and local broadcasters made a strategic pivot. KGW’s return wasn’t a fluke. It was a calculated move, confirmed by KGW News reporter Art Edwards, who reported live outside Moda Center on November 19, 2025, calling it “the first time this season the Blazers have been on a national broadcast — and it’s kind of exciting that way.”

The eight-year gap between KGW broadcasts feels longer than it sounds. For fans who grew up watching Blazers games on Channel 8, the return felt personal. “I recorded the 2017 playoff run on VHS,” said longtime fan Marisol Chen, 47, outside the arena. “I didn’t think I’d see this again.” The network’s return coincides with a broader media shift: the Blazers now have eight nationally televised games in 2025-26 — six on NBC, one on Peacock, and one on Amazon Prime. That’s the most since 2021-22, when they had nine. No games are scheduled on ESPN or ABC, a notable departure from past decades.

From Road Struggles to Homecoming

The Suns game followed a grueling five-game road trip that ended in heartbreaking fashion. On Sunday, November 16, 2025, in Dallas, the Blazers led by 12 points with 4:12 left in regulation. They looked poised to snap a three-game losing streak. But overtime — as Edwards put it — “didn’t go the way they had planned.” The Mavericks outscored Portland 14-5 in the extra period, winning 118-113. The loss dropped the Blazers to 3-4 on the season, but the emotional weight of returning home, and back to KGW, shifted the narrative.

Inside Moda Center, the energy was electric. Fans waved “Lillard is Back” signs. The team’s new starting lineup — featuring Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and rookie sensation Yang Hansen — looked cohesive, if still finding rhythm. Hansen, the 19-year-old Chinese phenom who drew 5.2 million viewers in China during Summer League games on CCTV, made his official NBA debut in the season opener against Minnesota on October 22, 2025. He’s now averaging 14.3 points per game, and his presence has quietly expanded the Blazers’ global footprint.

Why This Matters Beyond Portland

The Blazers’ national exposure spike isn’t just about ratings. It’s about relevance. After years of mediocrity and injury-plagued seasons, Portland’s 2025-26 roster feels like a reset. Lillard, 34, is playing with renewed purpose. The front office, under general manager Joe Cronin, has rebuilt depth around him — and the league noticed. The eight national broadcasts signal that the NBA sees Portland as a viable market again, not just a relic of its 2010s glory.

For local advertisers, this is a windfall. KGW’s ratings for the Suns game jumped 47% compared to last season’s lone national game. Local businesses along Burnside and the Pearl District reported increased foot traffic before and after the game. “This isn’t just basketball,” said Portland Chamber of Commerce director Robert Kim. “It’s economic momentum.”

What’s Next on the Schedule

The Blazers’ 2025-26 schedule includes two five-game homestands — one in late December and another in early February. December’s road slate is brutal: a Tuesday night game in Toronto on December 2, a Wednesday trip to Cleveland on the 3rd, and a Friday stop in Detroit on the 5th. But the real test comes in January, when they face the Warriors, Nuggets, and Lakers — all nationally televised.

One glaring omission? The December 14 matchup against Milwaukee, where Lillard returns to face his former team. Despite the storyline, it won’t be broadcast nationally — a decision that surprised analysts. “The league’s prioritizing market size and current relevance over nostalgia,” said NBA media analyst Lisa Tran. “Lillard’s legacy is secure. They’re betting on the new core.”

Behind the Scenes: The Media Shift

The return to KGW didn’t happen overnight. Behind the scenes, the Blazers’ ownership group, led by Paul Allen’s estate, negotiated a new 10-year media rights deal with NBCUniversal in July 2025. The agreement includes exclusive local broadcast rights for KGW, enhanced digital streaming via Peacock, and increased promotional support for youth basketball programs in Oregon. “This is about legacy,” said team president Chris McGowan. “We’re not just selling games. We’re rebuilding community trust.”

For fans who remember the days when KGW’s broadcast team — with the late Bill Schonely’s iconic “Rip City!” calls — was the soundtrack to Portland’s identity, this feels like homecoming. The lights are brighter. The crowd is louder. And for the first time since 2017, the Blazers aren’t just playing basketball — they’re being watched again.