It is formally basketball season: Find out how to watch probably the most NBA video games with out cable

Desk of Contents

Watching sports retains getting extra sophisticated. The 2024-2025 NBA season simply kicked off and in the event you minimize cable together with nearly all of the nation, you are going to want a streaming service or two to catch the motion stay.

Between regional sports activities networks, blackout video games, and nationwide broadcasts, we have now rather a lot to cowl. Buckle up, basketball fans. We have your information to watching the 2024-2025 NBA season, together with all the finest streaming offers.

When does the 2024-2025 NBA season begin?

The NBA season formally kicked off on Oct. 22 with the New York Knicks taking on the Boston Celtics at TD Backyard in Boston. The 82-game regular season wraps up April 13, 2025.

What channels do I want to look at stay NBA video games this season?

Throughout the 2024-2025 NBA season, video games will air stay on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, TNT, NBA TV, and naturally, regional sports activities networks. Every workforce has a regional sports activities community that broadcasts video games stay for viewers inside that area. If a recreation is not on ABC, ESPN, TNT, or NBA TV, it is on a workforce’s regional sports activities community (extra on that under). The NBA playoffs in 2025 can be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and TNT, whereas the NBA finals can be stay on ABC.

Issues are set to get much more sophisticated subsequent season, because the NBA’s new media deals with Prime Video and Peacock will exchange TNT. However we’ll cross that bridge once we get to it.

When you have cable, you’ll be able to tune in by way of your TV supplier or on the cell apps together with your cable TV account login for the principle networks. Not a cable subscriber? No worries — in 2024, there are many different choices. Dwell TV streaming companies function cable alternate options with no strings connected, providing you with stay entry to a well-rounded channel choice by way of your web connection (quite than a cable connection). With no contract required, you’ll be able to cancel everytime you want. Under, we have rounded up our prime picks, together with the very best streaming offers at present obtainable for every.

What’s an RSN and which one do I want?

In contrast to the NFL, which presents nationwide broadcasts of most video games with particular in-market alternative video games, the NBA complicates issues with regional sports activities networks (RSNs). These are primarily sports-specific TV channels devoted to a neighborhood market or geographic space. Should you stay in the identical area as your favourite workforce, you may have to know which RSN broadcasts your workforce’s video games. Some examples of RSNs are FanDuel Sports activities Community (which changed Bally Sports activities), NBC Sports activities, and Altitude Sports activities. Head over to the NBA schedule in the event you aren’t positive which community your workforce performs on. For an entire listing of every workforce’s RSN, see the FAQs under.

Should you actually solely care about your native workforce, many RSNs supply subscriptions so that you can tune in with out cable. For instance, Fan Duel Sports Network Southeast (which incorporates Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies video games) is $19.99 per 30 days or $124.99 for the entire NBA season. Monumental Sports Network (which incorporates the Washington Wizards) is $19.99 per 30 days or $199.99 per yr. A fast Google seek for your workforce’s RSN will let you understand if there is a separate subscription obtainable. After all, these RSN subscriptions is not going to embrace nationally broadcast video games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, or NBA TV.

If you wish to watch a workforce outdoors of your area, you do not essentially have to know which RSN mentioned workforce performs on; as a substitute, you may need to get NBA League Go for out-of-network video games (extra on that under). You may most likely be blacked out from watching a workforce in a distinct metropolis anyway (by which case, you’ll be able to try a VPN).

The perfect stay TV streaming offers for NBA video games

YouTube TV

Greatest for: Candy introductory deal for brand new subscribers, well-rounded channel lineup

Channels: ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2), TNT, NBA TV, some RSNs

Pricing: Free 10-day trial, then $49.99 per 30 days in your first two months (save $46). $72.99 per 30 days thereafter for YouTube TV Base Plan.

YouTube is one in all our favourite stay TV streaming companies for watching NBA video games. It presents each channel you want to watch as many nationally broadcast video games (in community) as doable, with over 100 in complete. It additionally presents entry to some RSNs relying in your area. Plus, in the event you’re new to the streamer, you’ll be able to kick issues off with a free trial, then a two-month introductory value of $49.99 per 30 days. Afterward, the worth will leap again as much as $72.99 per 30 days.

Sling

Greatest for: Affordability, a la carte channel choice

Channels: ABC (in choose networks), ESPN (and ESPN2), ESPN3 (simulcast ABC video games) TNT, NBA TV

Pricing: $40 per 30 days (half off first month) for Orange bundle + $11 per 30 days for Sports activities Additional=$31 for first month, then $51 per 30 days thereafter

Sling is one of the simplest ways to look at probably the most nationally broadcast NBA video games for the least amount of cash. You may get entry to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV, in addition to ABC in choose networks. For individuals who do not get entry to ABC of their area, ESPN3 simulcasts ABC video games, so you’ll be able to nonetheless watch stay. You may want the Orange bundle, which prices $40 per 30 days, plus the $11 per 30 days Sports activities Additional add-on to entry all of those networks by way of Sling. That brings your month-to-month complete to $51 per 30 days. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to slash $20 off your first month to get began. You too can add NBA League Go to your bundle for $16.99 per 30 days if you wish to watch out-of-market video games.

Hulu + Live TV

Greatest for: Extra than simply stay sports activities streaming, extra bang in your buck

Channels: ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2), TNT, restricted RSNs

Pricing: $59.99 per 30 days for 3 months, then $82.99 per 30 days

Whereas Hulu + Dwell TV does not embrace entry to NBA TV, it does supply ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and TNT in its 90+ channel lineup. To not point out, a subscription additionally provides you limitless entry to the streaming libraries of Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+. That is numerous bang in your buck. Usually $82.99 per 30 days, you’ll be able to join simply $59.99 per 30 days in your first three months by way of Nov. 19. Plus, new subscribers get a three-day free trial. There are restricted RSNs included within the base plan, however you’ll be able to add on Fan Duel Community for an extra $9.99 per 30 days.

FuboTV

Greatest for: Followers of sports activities past NBA, probably the most complete channel lineup

Channels: ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2), NBA TV, most RSNs

Pricing: 7-day free trial, then $59.99 for the primary month. $79.99 per 30 days thereafter for Fubo Professional plan.

Very best for sports activities fanatics of all sizes and styles (past simply NBA), FuboTV has probably the most complete channel lineup of any stay TV streaming supplier with over 185 channels in its base plan. The draw back is it does not embrace TNT, which is about to broadcast 66 video games this season. For that purpose alone, it isn’t our prime choose for watching NBA video games this yr, however it’s nonetheless a strong alternative total. After a seven-day free trial, your first month of the Professional plan is simply $59.99 ($79.99 per 30 days thereafter).

DirecTV Stream

Greatest for: Followers who stay in identical area as their workforce, extra than simply watching sports activities

Channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, NBA TV, most RSNs

Pricing: $89.99 per 30 days for the Alternative bundle + RSN price

Should you principally care about your own home workforce, however prefer to examine in with different groups as nicely, DirecTV Stream’s Alternative bundle is a strong choice, albeit costly. The Alternative bundle begins at $89.99 per 30 days (with a $10 low cost per 30 days in the event you join two years) and provides you entry to virtually each workforce’s RSN (for a fee). The Alternative bundle additionally contains ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and TNT. With the hidden charges, it’s going to seemingly price you over $100 per 30 days, which is why it isn’t our favourite choice.

NBA League Pass

Greatest for: Out-of-market video games, evaluation, highlights, and extra

Channels: All the pieces besides nationwide broadcasts on ABC, TNT, and ESPN.

Pricing:

• $109.99 for the season (with adverts) or $16.99 per 30 days

• $159.99 for the season (no adverts) or $24.99 per 30 days

• $89.99 for only one workforce for the season

• $9.99 per 30 days for students

Just like NFL’s Sunday Ticket, minus the outrageous price, NBA League Go provides followers entry to stay out-of-market video games. Plus, you may get to get pleasure from video games from the NBA’s archive, evaluation, documentaries, highlights, and extra. Native video games on NBA TV, in addition to nationally broadcast video games on ESPN, TNT, and ABC can be blacked out stay. You may tune into regionally blacked-out video games three days after the stay broadcast and nationally broadcast video games three hours after.

For instance: As a Nashville resident, stay Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks video games are blacked out for me.

Max

Greatest for: Informal followers, catching video games on TNT

Channels: TNT

Pricing:

• $9.99 per 30 days With Adverts or $99.99 per yr (save $19)

• $16.99 per 30 days Advert-Free or $169.99 per yr (save $33)

• $20.99 per 30 days Final Advert-Free or $209.99 per yr (save $41)

Max subscribers get entry to stay NBA video games on TNT by way of the brand new B/R Sports activities add-on. It is at present free together with your Max subscription for an unspecified restricted time. So, informal followers seeking to tune into just a few NBA video games right here and there may get by with a Max subscription solely.