The road to the 2026 NBA G League championship begins this week as sixteen teams embark on a high-stakes single-elimination playoff tournament. The postseason format features win-or-go-home games through the conference rounds before transitioning to a best-of-three championship series.
Defending champion Stockton Kings return to the playoffs as the Western Conference's No. 3 seed after posting a 23-13 regular season record. The Kings captured last year's title and now face the challenge of repeating in a competitive field.
The Eastern Conference is led by the top-seeded Osceola Magic, who finished with an impressive 26-10 record. The Magic are followed by the Greensboro Swarm (24-12) and Cleveland Charge (23-13) in a tightly contested conference race.
Western Conference supremacy will be challenged by the South Bay Lakers, who matched Osceola's 26-10 record to claim the top seed. The Mexico City Capitanes earned the No. 2 spot with a 24-12 mark, setting up potential conference showdowns.
ESPN's broadcast schedule begins Wednesday with the Conference Quarterfinals featuring the San Diego Clippers at South Bay Lakers at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The network will continue coverage throughout the tournament with Conference Semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. ET and Conference Finals on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET, both airing on ESPNU.
The NBA G League Finals will shift to a best-of-three format beginning April 8. Game 1 tips off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNews, followed by Game 2 on April 10 at 7 p.m. ET on the same network. If necessary, Game 3 will air April 13 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
All games will be available for streaming through the ESPN App and the NBA G League's official streaming hub. Broadcast times are subject to change based on game outcomes and progression through the tournament brackets.
Fans seeking additional coverage can visit ESPN's NBA G League hub page for comprehensive news, scores, schedules, and standings throughout the playoffs. The complete playoff field includes eight teams from each conference, with the Eastern Conference featuring Raptors 905, Motor City Cruise, Capital City Go-Go, Maine Celtics, and Long Island Nets rounding out the bracket.
Western Conference competitors include Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Austin Spurs, Iowa Wolves, Rip City Remix, and San Diego Clippers completing the playoff picture. Each team will battle through the single-elimination format for a chance to compete for the championship in the best-of-three finals series.
