We show you the best options for watching NBA livestreams on ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV, and NBA League Pass. If none of those work for you, we have some sources for free NBA livestreams that you can check out.
How to Watch the NBA Season
Four national networks share the rights to broadcast regular season and postseason games. Some games are also available on regional sports networks. That means the best way to watch is with a cable subscription or a subscription to a cable replacement streaming service. Every team in the NBA plays 82 games per season. So, it’s unlikely that anyone would want, or be able to, watch every game. If you want to leave your options open and want to watch as many games as possible, make sure you have some type of access to these channels:
ABC: Games are broadcast throughout the regular season on ABC each week on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons. Some playoff games are shown on ABC, and the entire NBA finals are broadcast on ABC. ESPN: Doubleheaders are broadcast on ESPN on Wednesday and Friday nights throughout the season. The Western Conference Finals are also on ESPN. TNT: Doubleheaders are broadcast on TNT on Tuesday and Thursday nights. The Eastern Conference Finals are also on TNT. NBA TV: Games are broadcast on NBA TV almost every night throughout the regular season. Some playoff games are also on this network. Regional sports networks: These networks have the rights to broadcast local teams. If you have a regional sports network in your area, it may have the rights to broadcast the games of your local NBA team.
How to Stream the NBA on a Streaming Service
Since NBA games are broadcast on four networks and a variety of regional sports networks, the best way to catch the most games possible is to use a streaming service. To use a television streaming service, you need high-speed internet and at least one device that’s capable of streaming, like a computer, a phone, a set-top box like a Roku, or a game console. These streaming services offer unique lineups of channels, so some are better for watching the NBA than others. Here are the most popular streaming services and the relevant channels each offer: DirecTV Stream is a good choice as well, depending on your area, but the required channels aren’t included with cheaper plans. Sling TV is also a decent option, but only if you live in one of the few markets where they’re able to provide a livestream of ABC. fuboTV and Hulu with Live TV are the worst options for streaming the NBA. fuboTV doesn’t have ESPN, and Hulu with Live TV doesn’t have NBA TV.
How to Stream the NBA With NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass is a subscription service that allows you to stream NBA games. It has three pricing tiers, and each gives you a different level of access. The least expensive version allows you to stream games from a single team. The most expensive version gives you access to the most games possible. While NBA League Pass offers a good deal of flexibility, it’s subject to blackout rules. That means you may not be able to stream games from your local team, depending on where you live, and nationally broadcast games may also be blacked out. Here’s how to stream NBA games with NBA League Pass:
Livestream the NBA Season on Your Phone, Tablet, or Streaming Device
If you want to watch NBA games on your mobile device, set-top box, or game console, you’ll need the appropriate app. Each of these apps requires some type of subscription to use. The ESPN, TNT, and ABC apps only allow you to livestream NBA games if you have a cable subscription. The NBA app only lets you livestream games if you have an NBA League Pass subscription. Here are some of the apps that allow you to stream NBA games:
