How To Watch NBA Games on TV: Your 2025–2026 Streaming & Channel Guide
The NBA’s new media deal is here, and it’s a bit of a mess. That’s why we’ve created this ultimate fan’s guide to navigating channel lineups and the best TV services.
The NBA has completely altered the way you watch games. Through the league’s new media deal, TNT is out and a duo of new partners (NBCUniversal and Amazon) is in. This change means games are now spread across more channels and streaming services than ever before.
For fans, this new setup can feel like a full-court press. You’ve now got your local regional sports network (RSN), a handful of national channels, and two exclusive streaming services to keep track of. It’s a lot, and figuring it all out is a real challenge.
That’s where this guide comes in. I’ve drawn up a game plan to give you a simple, one-stop playbook for the 2025–2026 NBA season. I’ll cover the channels you need and recommend the best TV packages so you don’t miss a single game.
What TV channels show NBA games?
For the 2025–2026 season, the NBA’s national broadcast lineup has a brand-new look. The primary national broadcasters are now ABC, ESPN, and NBC. You’ll also find a new slate of exclusive, high-profile games streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Peacock. And of course, NBA TV still has its own schedule of can’t-miss matchups.
Games that aren’t on national TV will require a different setup. Local fans will need access to their regional sports network for in-market coverage, while out-of-market fans must subscribe to NBA League Pass. To see the exact channel lineup for your favorite team, check out our dedicated watch guides in the drop-down menu below.
NBA schedule: Key dates for the 2025–2026 season
The NBA season is more than just an 82-game grind. It’s a marathon packed with an in-season tournament, holiday spectacles, and long-running rivalries. I’ve already marked my calendar for the major highlights, especially the return of NBA on NBC for the first time in over two decades.
To help you plan your viewing around the season’s biggest moments, I’ve laid out all the key dates below. But you’ll also want to visit the official NBA schedule for the most up-to-the-minute weekly TV calendar.
- NBA Tip-Off: Tuesday, Oct. 21
- NBA Cup: Begins Friday, Oct. 31
- NBA on Christmas Day: Thursday, Dec. 25
- NBA on MLK Day: Monday, Jan. 19
- 2026 NBA All-Star: Friday, Feb. 13 – Sunday, Feb. 15
- NBA Play-In Tournament: Tuesday, April 14 – Friday, April 17
- NBA Playoffs: Begins Saturday, April 18
- NBA Finals: Begins Thursday, June 4
Best TV providers for NBA games
With the NBA’s new media deal, there’s no single service that gets you every single game. My recommendation is to build your own perfect package. You’ll need a great foundational live TV service for your local RSN and the core national channels, plus a few essential streaming add-ons for the exclusive games. To make it simple, here are my top picks for each category.
- Editor’s Choice: Stream with DIRECTV ($84.99–$164.99/mo.*)
- Essential Streaming Exclusives: Amazon Prime Video ($8.99–$17.98/mo.)
- Your Home for Monday Hoops: Peacock ($10.99–$16.99/mo.)
- Best for Out-of-Market Games: NBA League Pass ($16.99–$24.99/mo.)
Combining a service like DIRECTV with Prime Video, Peacock, and NBA League Pass is the only way to guarantee you’ll have access to every local, national, and out-of-market game this season. It’s a bit of a puzzle (a really expensive one at that), but this combination gives you the most complete picture.
Editor’s Choice: Stream with DIRECTV
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*for 24 months plus taxes and fees w/ 24-mo. agmt.; AutoPay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
Pros
- Large channel counts
- Wide selection of RSNs
- Excellent app features
Cons
- Expensive plans
- No NBA League Pass add-on
Stream with DIRECTV’s CHOICE plan and above comes with ESPN and NBA TV. You’ll also get your local ABC and NBC channels and regional sports networks based on your billing location, giving you nearly complete local and primetime NBA coverage.
I don’t recommend going beyond the CHOICE plan because it’s expensive—even compared to Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. But no other live TV streaming service offers the same comprehensive RSN and national coverage.
You’ll still run into blackouts with DIRECTV when it comes to out-of-market games. Previously, you could add NBA League Pass to your subscription as a monthly add-on to avoid those blackouts. But now, you’ll need a standalone League Pass subscription through NBA.com or Amazon Prime Video.
Overall, DIRECTV sets you up nicely for watching live sports and entertainment. I know keeping up with all that content can be a challenge, but all DIRECTV customers get unlimited DVR storage.** You’ll even get multiview channels to catch sports and news happening all at once, a fantastic feature that gives you more freedom to stay connected.
Essential Streaming Exclusives: Amazon Prime Video
Data effective as of post date. Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pros
- 66 exclusive regular-season games
- Innovative playback features
- NBA League Pass add-on options
Cons
- No cable or satellite TV access
- Internet connection requirement
Amazon Prime Video now serves as the exclusive home for a huge slate of national NBA games. Each season, the streaming service will carry Thursday and Friday night doubleheaders, the entire NBA Cup knockout stage, and the Play-In Tournament. Whether you need a subscription really depends on your favorite team’s schedule, but if you want to follow some of the league’s biggest moments, Prime Video is now essential.
What excites me the most about the NBA on Prime Video is the broadcast features. You’ll get Multiview capabilities, a Key Moments option to rewatch big plays, and my personal favorite, Rapid Recap. I’ve used Rapid Recap during Thursday Night Football, and it’s a slick, seamless way to get caught up on the action if you’re joining a live game late.
Of course, the one major downside is that these Prime Video games are streaming exclusives. That’s a tough pill to swallow for traditional cable and satellite subscribers who lack access to high-speed internet.
On the flip side, Prime Video allows you to bundle additional subscriptions conveniently. You can get add-on channels like NBA League Pass, Peacock Premium Plus, and even FanDuel Sports Network RSNs directly through Amazon. There’s also a deep library of TV shows and movies to enjoy on Prime Video between games.
Best for NBA and WNBA Fans: YouTube TV
Data effective as of post date. Compatible device and internet connection required. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Pros
- Every national NBA and WNBA channel
- Unlimited cloud DVR
- Recognizable interface
Cons
- Limited regional sports networks
- One English-language base plan
YouTube TV is our top-rated live TV streaming service, and for NBA and WNBA fans alike, the provider has much to offer.
YouTube TV’s base package includes every channel you’ll need for national NBA and WNBA broadcasts and offers NBA League Pass as an optional add-on for $16.99 a month. Unlike Sling TV, YouTube TV also comes with in-app local channel support—so there’s no need for an antenna or third-party provider.
You can record any games you miss on YouTube TV’s unlimited DVR, which saves recordings for up to nine months. The service also has a spoiler feature that can hide final scores or live previews before you start watching saved games.
When it comes to price, YouTube TV sits closer to DIRECTV STREAM than Sling TV. It doesn’t have the RSN coverage that makes DIRECTV STREAM our top choice for watching the NBA. But YouTube TV’s quality channel lineup, multiview feature, and unlimited DVR make it a slam dunk for year-round streaming.
Best for Out-of-Market Games: NBA League Pass
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Blackout restrictions apply.
Pros
- Home and away team broadcast feeds
- Access to every NBA game replay
- Live in-game stats on select devices
Cons
- No live local or primetime games
- Delayed replay access for blacked-out games
I’ve already mentioned NBA League Pass several times because it’s for out-of-market fans and anyone who wants to stay on top of every league storyline. Following the new NBA media deal, you can no longer get League Pass as an add-on to most live TV services. Instead, you must sign up directly on NBA.com or through Amazon Prime Video’s channels hub. (Fortunately, it’s still available as an add-on to cable and satellite TV customers.)
The greatest benefit of NBA League Pass is its live access to all games outside your local area. But the service won’t get you live access to your local team or nationally broadcast games like the NBA Playoffs. While you can watch those games on demand three hours after they air, waiting that long sure feels like a penalty in the streaming era.
NBA League Pass starts at $16.99 per month. That’s much cheaper than the comparable MLB.TV ($29.99 a month) and NFL Sunday Ticket ($378.00 a season for returning users on YouTube TV) out-of-market packages.
If you want to upgrade to no commercials, you can jump up to the $24.99-a-month NBA League Pass Premium plan. Otherwise, there’s NBA Team Pass for $13.99 a month, which gets you every non-blackout game for one team of your choice. The NBA also offers League Pass Audio for a one-time fee of $9.99 if you only want radio streams.
Beyond live and on-demand games, NBA League Pass comes with live NBA TV access and hosts archived series like NBA Hardwood Classics. You can relive great basketball moments like Michael Jordan’s 63-point game vs. the Boston Celtics or Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game vs. the Toronto Raptors anytime, even during the off-season.
How to watch NBA games for free
†CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $46.99 (as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.
There are a few ways to get free access to NBA basketball, like taking advantage of free trial periods through streaming services like DIRECTV, Fubo, and YouTube TV. But the most reliable free way to watch NBA games is by using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna.
With several NBA matchups airing on ABC and NBC—including the entire NBA Finals—an antenna will get you live access as long as you’re within the range of network affiliates. Sure, antennas aren’t free. But a simple one-time purchase will set you up with live sports for many years—including a lot of college basketball if CBS is in your area.
Pro tip: You can verify which local channels an antenna can pick up by entering your zip code on the FCC’s Reception Map Tool.
One of my favorite antennas is the Mohu Leaf 50. It can receive TV signals from up to 60 miles away and has 4K capabilities. But if you want something cheaper or more robust, you can check out our complete Best Antennas for Cord-Cutters guide.
How to watch NBA games FAQ
Can I watch NBA games without cable?
Yes, the best way to watch NBA games without cable is with a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV or Fubo, which will get you most of the core national and regional channels. To be a true completist, you’ll also need separate subscriptions to Amazon Prime Video and Peacock for their exclusive games, plus NBA League Pass for out-of-market coverage.
Can I just buy NBA TV?
Yes, NBA TV is a channel included in most TV providers’ higher-tiered plans. But you can also purchase NBA TV as a standalone subscription for $6.99 a month through the same site that offers NBA League Pass.
Can I watch NBA on Amazon Prime?
Yes, you can watch many live NBA games on Amazon Prime Video. You can even level up the number of games you see by purchasing Prime Video’s Peacock and NBA League Pass channel add-ons. Plus, you can watch select WNBA games on Prime Video during the summer.
How can I watch NBA Summer League?
The NBA Summer League usually takes place in July, with games airing on NBA TV and ESPN channels. Sling TV offers the cheapest way to tune in through its Sling Orange plan ($45.99/mo.) with the Sports Extra add-on ($11.00/mo.).
Why you should trust us
Our sports-minded experts conducted over 40 hours of research and hands-on testing to determine the best ways to watch the latest NBA season. We compared TV plans and prices by examining channel lineups, hidden fees, and extra features.
To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
Disclaimer
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
*Price subj. to change for new and existing customers.
**Data connection req’d. Recordings expire after 9 months. In a series recording, max 30 episodes stored with unlimited hours of cloud DVR and max 10 episodes stored with 20 hours of cloud DVR (oldest deleted first which may be in less than 9 months). Restrictions apply.
†Amazon.com price as of 7/25/25 11:20 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
