The Unofficial NBA Streaming Guide
Stream every NBA game, without the guesswork.
What's happening in the NBA this week
Today, June 5, 2025
Disclosure: Hotdog.com is supported by readers. When you click on our links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more
Finding ways to watch all the NBA games I want can be challenging due to the complexities of the US sports broadcasting system. I often run into frustrating blackout restrictions and get confused by the differences between in-market and out-of-market game broadcasts.
In a hurry? The easiest way to watch out-of-market NBA games is with NBA League Pass, which you can get through the following services:
- Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
- DIRECTV: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV.
- Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.
If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.
Out-of-Market NBA Games
There is a lot of jargon that has been created to describe the strange way that many sports are broadcast in the United States. Two of the most important are out-of-market and in-market.
In-market games are those that involve your local team. If you live in Portland, Oregon, any matchup that involves the Trail Blazers is in-market. And any matchup that does not involve them is out-of-market.
To watch most in-market games, you need access to the regional sports network (RSN) that covers your local team. In the case of Trail Blazers games, that’s Root Sports Northwest.
NBA League Pass was created to allow basketball fans to watch out-of-market games. It is like the anti-RSN. So to continue our example, those in Portland would be able to watch all games except for those that involve the Trail Blazers.
Out-of-Market NBA Games Options
There are various ways to watch out-of-market NBA games of varying degrees of cost and power.
National Games
Most NBA fans don’t need to even think about out-of-market games because the NBA has done an impressive job of providing nationally broadcast games. This year, 267 NBA regular season games will be broadcast on ABC (18), ESPN (79), NBA TV (106), or TNT (65). (Note that two games appear on ABC and ESPN at the same time. See our NBA Viewer’s Guide for the complete schedule.
All the play-in and playoff games will also appear on those channels.
The following streaming services offer all those channels:
- Sling TV: Although it doesn’t offer ABC, you will still get to watch all those games with ESPN3. With Sling Orange, you can watch 169 games for just $45.99/month. (Sling TV review)
- DIRECTV: Get all these national channels along with whatever RSNs are offered in your area. (DIRECTV review)
- YouTube TV: Get all the national channels to watch the NBA.
NBA League Pass
Most of the major sports leagues provide out-of-market packages. There are NFL Sunday Ticket and MLB.tv, for example. And the NHL uses ESPN+ for this purpose.
Similarly, the standard way to watch out-of-market NBA games is to sign-up for NBA League Pass. You can get it directly from the league and watch either on the NBA app or through NBA.com.
There are three NBA League Pass subscription types. First, is the standard package, which you can get for $99.99/yr or $14.99/mo. This includes out-of-market games with commercials on a single device.
Next, you can get NBA Team Pass for $89.99/yr, if you are only interested in the games of your favorite team and don’t care about the rest. But it limits you to the games of a single team for not much cost savings.
Finally, you can get League Pass Premium for $149.99/yr or $22.99/mo. This package allows you to stream on up to 3 devices at once.
For local games, blackout restrictions apply for three days after the game. For nationally broadcast games, the blackout restrictions are removed three hours after games. Either case is not acceptable to most fans.
Given you will also need the other channels, most people get NBA League Pass through a live TV streaming service: Fubo, Sling TV, DIRECTV, and YouTube TV.
VPN
VPNs are powerful tools that are essential for cord-cutters. They won’t allow you to watch games you don’t have the rights to. But under circumstances where geotargeting is blocking you from watching games, they can work miracles.
But again: they don’t provide content. You need to combine them with a live TV streaming service like Fubo to catch the action during the NBA season.
Social Solutions for Watching Out-of-Market NBA Games
We list this one last but it might well be your first option: reach out to friends, family, and co-workers. Most people enjoy watching live sports with a group and are glad to share their services.
A related prospect is the now ubiquitous sports bar. These establishments normally air multiple games at the same time. And more recently, you can even find non-drinking establishments that cater to sports fan, although they are still rare.
NBA League Pass Streaming Devices
There is some variability in terms of device support for the various services. But they all support the most popular devices: Amazon Fire TV/Firestick, Android mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS (iPhone, iPad), Roku, Samsung smart TVs, and web browsers.
Our Choice
If you’re into catching out-of-market NBA games, NBA League Pass is a no-brainer. The streaming quality is consistently great, so you can watch without annoying buffering. It’s super flexible, working on everything from phones to smart TVs, and it’s easy to jump between live games, replays, and highlights. You’ll have access to tons of matchups, making it ideal for following teams outside your area. Since you’ll also want other key channels, most people pair NBA League Pass with a live TV streaming service like Fubo, Sling TV, DIRECTV, or YouTube TV. This combo covers all the bases, making it a solid setup for serious basketball fans.
A passionate cord-cutter and longtime subscriber to numerous streaming services, Frank has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of sports streaming.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute and a professional background in early streaming technology, Frank combines deep technical insight with practical, real-world knowledge.
His mission at Hotdog.com was straightforward: help sports fans get hassle-free access to the games they love, at the best price, without frustration.
- How to Watch Pac-12 College Teams This Year - 08/06/2024
- States That Have Produced Leading Actors and Actresses - 09/06/2022
- US States With the Fastest Internet - 06/21/2022
Get Early Access to Game-Day Alerts
We’re launching real-time email alerts for your favourite teams soon. Join the wait-list now and get free early access as soon as it’s ready.
Stream Smarter: More Games, Less Money
Stop paying for channels you never watch. Hotdog finds the cheapest legal streams for your favorite teams—no blackouts, no hidden fees, no hassle.
Save up to 61%
We track prices and find the best deals tailored exactly to your teams, sports, and leagues.
100% Independent
Zero influence from Big Cable or the leagues. Our game data refreshes in real-time, so you always get unbiased info.
Beat the Blackouts
Proven blackout solutions that work for MLB, NBA, NFL, and more - watch every game from anywhere.
Trusted by 1 Million+ Fans
Featured in Variety, Motley Fool, Inc., Mashable, and more—fans worldwide trust Hotdog.
Beat Blackouts & Unlock Every Game
Already paying for streaming but still can’t watch your team? Stop missing out - instantly unblock every game you’re entitled to.
A VPN safely unlocks every stream by securely changing your virtual location. VPNs are completely legal* in nearly every democratic country in the world, so unless you’re watching from North Korea or Belarus, you’re good to go.
Never miss another minute. No blackouts. No hassle. Just sports.
- Instant Access to Blocked Games
- Works With All Major Streaming Services
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
* We’re not lawyers, and this isn’t legal advice. VPNs are legal in the US, UK, EU and Canada, but illegal in a handful of authoritarian states (like North Korea or Belarus) and regulated/restricted in countries like Iraq, Russia and China. Always confirm the laws where you live before using a VPN.