It’s officially basketball season: How to watch the most NBA games without cable
Watching sports keeps getting more complicated. The 2024-2025 NBA season just kicked off and if you cut cable along with the majority of the country, you’re going to need a streaming service or two to catch the action live.
Between regional sports networks, blackout games, and national broadcasts, we have a lot to cover. Buckle up, basketball fans. We’ve got your guide to watching the 2024-2025 NBA season, including all of the best streaming deals.
When does the 2024-2025 NBA season start?
The NBA season officially kicked off on Oct. 22 with the New York Knicks taking on the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston. The 82-game regular season wraps up April 13, 2025.
What channels do I need to watch live NBA games this season?
During the 2024-2025 NBA season, games will air live on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, TNT, NBA TV, and of course, regional sports networks. Each team has a regional sports network that broadcasts games live for viewers within that region. If a game isn’t on ABC, ESPN, TNT, or NBA TV, it’s on a team’s regional sports network (more on that below). The NBA playoffs in 2025 will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and TNT, while the NBA finals will be live on ABC.
Things are set to get even more complicated next season, as the NBA’s new media deals with Prime Video and Peacock will replace TNT. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.
If you have cable, you can tune in through your TV provider or on the mobile apps with your cable TV account login for the main networks. Not a cable subscriber? No worries — in 2024, there are plenty of other options. Live TV streaming services serve as cable alternatives with no strings attached, giving you live access to a well-rounded channel selection through your internet connection (rather than a cable connection). With no contract required, you can cancel whenever you wish. Below, we’ve rounded up our top picks, including the best streaming deals currently available for each.
What is an RSN and which one do I need?
Unlike the NFL, which offers national broadcasts of most games with specific in-market choice games, the NBA complicates things with regional sports networks (RSNs). These are essentially sports-specific TV channels dedicated to a local market or geographic area. If you live in the same region as your favorite team, you’ll need to know which RSN broadcasts your team’s games. Some examples of RSNs are FanDuel Sports Network (which replaced Bally Sports), NBC Sports, and Altitude Sports. Head over to the NBA schedule if you aren’t sure which network your team plays on. For a complete list of each team’s RSN, see the FAQs below.
If you really only care about your local team, many RSNs offer subscriptions for you to tune in without cable. For example, Fan Duel Sports Network Southeast (which includes Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies games) is $ 19.99 per month or $ 124.99 for the whole NBA season. Monumental Sports Network (which includes the Washington Wizards) is $ 19.99 per month or $ 199.99 per year. A quick Google search for your team’s RSN will let you know if there’s a separate subscription available. Of course, these RSN subscriptions will not include nationally broadcast games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, or NBA TV.
If you want to watch a team outside of your region, you don’t necessarily need to know which RSN said team plays on; instead, you’ll want to get NBA League Pass for out-of-network games (more on that below). You’ll probably be blacked out from watching a team in a different city anyway (in which case, you can try a VPN).
The best live TV streaming deals for NBA games
YouTube TV
Best for: Sweet introductory deal for 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 month for your first two months (save $ 46). $ 72.99 per month thereafter for YouTube TV Base Plan.
YouTube is one of our favorite live TV streaming services for watching NBA games. It offers every channel you need to watch as many nationally broadcast games (in network) as possible, with over 100 in total. It also offers access to some RSNs depending on your region. Plus, if you’re new to the streamer, you can kick things off with a free trial, then a two-month introductory price of $ 49.99 per month. Afterward, the price will jump back up to $ 72.99 per month.
Sling
Best for: Affordability, a la carte channel selection
Channels: ABC (in select networks), ESPN (and ESPN2), ESPN3 (simulcast ABC games) TNT, NBA TV
Pricing: $ 40 per month (half off first month) for Orange package + $ 11 per month for Sports Extra = $ 31 for first month, then $ 51 per month thereafter
Sling is the best way to watch the most nationally broadcast NBA games for the least amount of money. You’ll get access to ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV, as well as ABC in select networks. For those who don’t get access to ABC in their region, ESPN3 simulcasts ABC games, so you can still watch live. You’ll need the Orange package, which costs $ 40 per month, plus the $ 11 per month Sports Extra add-on to access all of these networks through Sling. That brings your monthly total to $ 51 per month. However, you can slash $ 20 off your first month to get started. You can also add NBA League Pass to your package for $ 16.99 per month if you want to watch out-of-market games.
Hulu + Live TV
Best for: More than just live sports streaming, more bang for your buck
Channels: ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2), TNT, limited RSNs
Pricing: $ 59.99 per month for three months, then $ 82.99 per month
While Hulu + Live TV doesn’t include access to NBA TV, it does offer ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, and TNT in its 90+ channel lineup. Not to mention, a subscription also gives you unlimited access to the streaming libraries of Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+. That’s a lot of bang for your buck. Typically $ 82.99 per month, you can sign up for just $ 59.99 per month for your first three months through Nov. 19. Plus, new subscribers get a three-day free trial. There are limited RSNs included in the base plan, but you can add on Fan Duel Network for an additional $ 9.99 per month.
FuboTV
Best for: Fans of sports beyond NBA, the most comprehensive channel lineup
Channels: ABC, ESPN (and ESPN2), NBA TV, most RSNs
Pricing: 7-day free trial, then $ 59.99 for the first month. $ 79.99 per month thereafter for Fubo Pro plan.
Ideal for sports fanatics of all shapes and sizes (beyond just NBA), FuboTV has the most comprehensive channel lineup of any live TV streaming provider with over 185 channels in its base plan. The downside is it doesn’t include TNT, which is set to broadcast 66 games this season. For that reason alone, it’s not our top pick for watching NBA games this year, but it’s still a solid choice overall. After a seven-day free trial, your first month of the Pro plan is just $ 59.99 ($ 79.99 per month thereafter).
DirecTV Stream
Best for: Fans who live in same region as their team, more than just watching sports
Channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, NBA TV, most RSNs
Pricing: $ 89.99 per month for the Choice package + RSN fee
If you mostly care about your home team, but like to check in with other teams as well, DirecTV Stream’s Choice package is a solid option, albeit expensive. The Choice package starts at $ 89.99 per month (with a $ 10 discount per month if you sign up for two years) and gives you access to almost every team’s RSN (for a fee). The Choice package also includes ESPN, ABC, NBA TV, and TNT. With the hidden fees, it’ll likely cost you over $ 100 per month, which is why it’s not our favorite option.
NBA League Pass
Best for: Out-of-market games, analysis, highlights, and more
Channels: Everything except national broadcasts on ABC, TNT, and ESPN.
Pricing:
$ 109.99 for the season (with ads) or $ 16.99 per month
$ 159.99 for the season (no ads) or $ 24.99 per month
$ 89.99 for just one team for the season
$ 9.99 per month for students
Similar to NFL’s Sunday Ticket, minus the outrageous fee, NBA League Pass gives fans access to live out-of-market games. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy games from the NBA’s archive, analysis, documentaries, highlights, and more. Local games on NBA TV, as well as nationally broadcast games on ESPN, TNT, and ABC will be blacked out live. You can tune into locally blacked-out games three days after the live broadcast and nationally broadcast games three hours after.
For example: As a Nashville resident, live Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks games are blacked out for me.
Max
Best for: Casual fans, catching games on TNT
Channels: TNT
Pricing:
$ 9.99 per month With Ads or $ 99.99 per year (save $ 19)
$ 16.99 per month Ad-Free or $ 169.99 per year (save $ 33)
$ 20.99 per month Ultimate Ad-Free or $ 209.99 per year (save $ 41)
Max subscribers get access to live NBA games on TNT through the new B/R Sports add-on. It’s currently free with your Max subscription for an unspecified limited time. So, casual fans looking to tune into a few NBA games here and there could get by with a Max subscription only.
