Update: The final stretch of the 2026 NBA Playoffs has arrived. The New York Knicks won the Eastern Conference and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. The San Antonio Spurs won the Western Conference Finals, beating the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NBA Finals are underway on ABC, which can be live streamed via services like ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV, and Fubo. The original article outlining streaming options for the 2025-2026 NBA season follows:
The NBA has officially returned for the 2025 to 2026 season, and the broadcast schedule has undergone quite a shakeup. We've done the extra work for you and highlighted everything you need to know about how to watch NBA games, including the cheapest ways to live stream all games and which services you can probably do without.
Among the major changes for the new NBA season is the loss of NBA on TNT. For the first time in 36 years, NBA games won't be broadcast on TNT on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays and Thursdays are instead split between NBC (and Peacock) and Prime Video, which are also new to the NBA scene. The one constant is ABC and ESPN, which will broadcast games on Sundays and Wednesdays, respectively.
Even if you have the most comprehensive cable package on the market, fans looking to watch all nationally broadcast games this year will still need to sign up for a couple of streaming services since there are some streaming-exclusive games each week, especially as the season wears on. Prime Video has gotten into the mix, and Monday night games are only available through Peacock (not NBC). Both NBCUniversal and Amazon are under 11-year media agreements with the NBA, so these viewing options are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Confused? We get it. We've broken down all the essential details below, including the cheapest combination of streaming packages that will allow you to watch all nationally broadcast/streamed games in one place. We'll also explain how NBA League Pass works (and why it might be worth skipping this year).
How to watch NBA games in the US
Nationally broadcast games from the 2025-2026 regular season will be available through ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video in the United States. NBC games will also be available on Peacock, but not all Peacock games (especially those on Monday) will air on NBC, so you'll most likely need a streaming service even if you already have access to NBC. NBA TV doesn't play a big role this year; instead, it will serve mainly as a highlight reel of key games, functioning a bit like NFL RedZone for the NBA. However, there will be a few stray games on NBA TV.
For cord-cutters, the cheapest way to live stream all nationally broadcast/streamed games isn't through one live TV streaming service. Instead, you'll want to subscribe to ESPN Unlimited ($30 a month) to access ABC and ESPN games, Peacock ($11 a month) to get NBC and Peacock games, and Prime Video ($9 a month) for games exclusive to that service. In total, that will run you $50 a month, making it more affordable than a live TV streaming package. Below, you can find a weekly schedule of nationally available games and the cheapest streaming counterpart for the broadcasts.
Peacock plans start at $11 a month for the Premium plan, which should unlock access to all NBC and Peacock NBA games. We'll test this as the season starts and make sure it's still the case. If you're looking to unlock 24/7 NBA live streams or want to stream on-demand content without ads, then you'll need to get the Peacock Premium Plus tier for $17 a month. Our Peacock streaming service guide breaks down other sports you can watch through the NBCUniversal app.
Peacock Premium Plus subscription is $17 a month. The extra cost gets rid of most ads, allows you to download select titles, and also comes with your local NBC channel.
ESPN Unlimited costs $30 a month and unlocks the full suite of live streaming content across ESPN properties, including the flagship network and ESPN on ABC content. While the cheaper ESPN Select tier unlocks some programming, you'll need Unlimited to watch the bulk of the NBA action. You can learn more in our ESPN streaming service guide.
ESPN Unlimited has everything from ESPN Plus, in addition to all that the ESPN linear networks have to offer, along with some exclusive events not found on broadcast channels.
The good news is that if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you're all set to start watching Prime Video's streaming exclusive games. Amazon Prime costs $15 a month, but if you're only interested in Prime Video, you can subscribe directly for $9 a month. Prime offers a 30-day free trial for new customers or those who haven't subscribed in over a year. You can learn more in our Prime Video guide.
Amazon Prime Video is a capable, competitive streaming service that's more than just a Prime membership perk. You can also sign up for a stand-alone plan at $9/month.
Another solid live TV streaming option is DirecTV MySports, which has quickly catapulted itself to the top of our list when it comes to the best live TV streaming services we've tested. The genre pack carries NBC, ABC, NBA TV, and ESPN in its 20+ channel line-up (although you should double-check what's available in your area due to regional local channel variability). MySports also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but you can get your first two for $60 a month after a five-day free trial.
DirecTV's MySports pack carries popular sports channels, from mainstays like ESPN to niche offerings like the ACC Network.
NBA League Pass can be very helpful or not helpful at all, depending on your interests. League Pass shows all out-of-market games, except those available through a national broadcast or streaming option (ABC, ESPN, NBC, Peacock, Prime Video). So, you'll need cable or the above streaming options to watch most notable games this season. NBA League Pass subscriptions start at $17 monthly. You can also add League Pass to Prime Video or DirecTV MySports as an add-on, which will cost the same as subscribing separately. Doing so through Prime Video will give you a seven-day free trial.
We recommend League Pass as an additional streaming option for those interested in having access to every single NBA game this season (in conjunction with the above streaming services) or those who are diehard fans of a team located in a region where they don't reside. If you're a casual NBA viewer or loyal to your local team, League Pass probably isn't necessary, especially since so many games are now on Peacock and Prime Video.
For example, if you're like me (a Celtics fan who lives in Boston), League Pass isn't a good option since I won't be able to watch any Celtics games, in addition to the national broadcast/streaming blackouts. But if you live in Boston and you're looking to watch every single Knicks game this year, then League Pass will be able to help you fill in some of the gaps not covered by national broadcast and streaming options.
NBA League Pass lets you stream out of market NBA games all season long. Note: Nationally televised games and local teams are not available live.
How to watch NBA games from anywhere
If you're traveling away from home and hoping to tune in while abroad, you can access your usual watch options with the aid of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that let people alter their virtual locations so that their usual services work from almost anywhere in the world. They're also great ways to improve online privacy and day-to-day security. The services we've highlighted require US payment methods, so this option will work best for Americans who are simply traveling abroad at the moment.
If we could draft any VPN as our No. 1 pick, it would be NordVPN. The top-rated service comes with an impressive selection of cybersecurity features and international servers. You can learn more about why we recommend the service in our official NordVPN review.
NordVPN is top of the pile of the best VPN services. It offers excellent value, with a strong feature set and a low monthly price. A wide selection of international servers, high-end security, fast connections, and audited privacy protection have made the brand a household name in the world of VPNs for a reason.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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