Each season, the NBA honors Martin Luther King Day on the third Monday of January with a lineup of games championing unity and equality.
This season’s MLK Day celebrations include 11 matchups on January 15, 2024. You can watch them all across a combination of TNT, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, and your local team’s regional sports network (RSN).
Catch all the courtside excitement on this special day with our comprehensive viewing guide.
What channels have NBA games on MLK Day?
The 2024 NBA MLK Day games will air on TNT, NBA TV, and your local team’s RSN—if your local team plays on MLK Day. All out-of-market matchups that don’t air on TNT and NBA TV are available to watch live on NBA League Pass.
Pro tip: The NFL postseason kicks off on January 13, 2024, with one Wild Card game airing on MLK Day. Visit our How To Watch the NFL Playoffs guide for the best ways to tune in.
NBA on MLK Day 2024 schedule
The NBA has 11 games lined up for MLK Day 2024. We listed every matchup and their corresponding channels in the table below. Games not airing on TNT or NBA TV are available on NBA League Pass for out-of-market viewers.
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Rockets at Philadelphia 76ers | Monday, January 15 | 1:00 p.m. | NBA TV, Space City Home Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks | Monday, January 15 | 2:30 p.m. | Bally Sports New Orleans, Bally Sports Southwest |
| Orlando Magic at New York Knicks | Monday, January 15 | 3:00 p.m. | Bally Sports Florida, MSG Network |
| Detroit Pistons at Washington Wizards | Monday, January 15 | 3:00 p.m. | Bally Sports Detroit, Monumental Sports Network |
| San Antonio Spurs at Atlanta Hawks | Monday, January 15 | 3:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies | Monday, January 15 | 6:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Chicago Bulls at Cleveland Cavaliers | Monday, January 15 | 7:00 p.m. | NBC Sports Chicago, Bally Sports Ohio |
| Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets | Monday, January 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Bally Sports Sun, YES Network |
| Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors | Monday, January 15 | 7:30 p.m. | NBC Sports Boston, TSN |
| Indiana Pacers at Utah Jazz | Monday, January 15 | 9:00 p.m. | Bally Sports Indiana, KJZZ-TV |
| Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers | Monday, January 15 | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV, Bally Sports Oklahoma, Spectrum SportsNet |
Data effective as of post date.
Best NBA on MLK Day TV plans
If you’re an avid NBA fan, you likely already have access to the channels airing NBA games on MLK Day. However, here’s a quick breakdown of the best TV providers based on coverage type.
- National games: YouTube TV ($72.99/mo.) offers TNT, NBA TV, and other national NBA channels like ABC and ESPN alongside its multi-view and unlimited DVR features.
- Local games: DIRECTV STREAM has excellent RSN coverage in its CHOICE™ plan ($83.99/mo.), but it’s a costly service for watching in-market NBA games.
- Out-of-market games: NBA League Pass is the league’s exclusive out-of-market package. Available as a TV add-on and standalone service, it’s the only way to watch games not airing on national and local channels.
Which providers show NBA games on MLK Day?
You can watch the NBA on MLK Day through most TV providers. Our table below highlights some of the most popular providers and whether they carry TNT and NBA TV.
| Provider | Type | Price | TNT | NBA TV | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | Cable | $61.00–$152.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | Satellite | $69.99–$159.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Streaming | $69.99–$159.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | Satellite | $84.99–$114.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | Streaming | $32.99–$99.99/mo. | — | ✔ |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | Streaming | $76.99–$89.99/mo. | ✔ | — |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | Cable | $35.00–$125.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | Streaming | $25.00/mo. | — | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | Streaming | $40.00–$55.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | Cable | $69.99–$74.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | Cable | $69.00–$129.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Vidgo | Streaming | $69.99–$99.99/mo. | — | — |
View plans Read Vidgo review |
| Xfinity | Cable | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | Streaming | $72.99/mo. | ✔ | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the NBA on MLK Day for free
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to watch NBA games on MLK Day for free. Your best option is to sign up for a free live TV streaming trial. We prefer DIRECTV STREAM’s five-day free trial because its CHOICE™ plan and above include TNT, NBA TV, and your local RSN.
NBA on MLK Day FAQ
Does the NBA play on MLK Day?
Yes, the NBA plays on MLK Day every season. Since MLK Day became an officially observed holiday in 1986, the NBA has honored the occasion with marquee matchups. The only exception was in 1999, when the 1998–1999 NBA lockout delayed the season until February.
What is the meaning of MLK Day in the NBA?
Per the NBA, the purpose of playing games on MLK Day is to “honor Dr. King’s pursuit of racial, social, and economic justice.” It’s similar to how the MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day every April 15.
Do the Hawks always play on MLK Day?
No, the Atlanta Hawks haven’t played on every MLK Day. However, in recent years, the Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies regularly feature in TNT’s nationally televised MLK Day games.
Methodology
Our sports experts researched and tested the best ways to watch this NBA season’s MLK Day games. We examined which channels carry each matchup and selected our viewing recommendations based on coverage, pricing, and ease of use.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
