The 2025-2026 NBA season kicked off on October 21, and you can watch the matchups even if you've ditched your cable subscription—all you need is the right video streaming service. However, you should know what constitutes a streaming service suitable for basketball fans before pulling out the plastic. We're here to help, with more than a decade's worth of streaming video coverage under our belts. With this guide, we help you determine everything needed to stream the upcoming hoops season, from the top channels to the best service for recording games. Read on for the best NBA streaming services, including Editors' Choice winners Hulu, Peacock, and YouTube TV, and what you need to know to watch pro hoops online.
Overview
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![Hulu]()
Best for On-Demand and Live TV StreamingHulu
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![Peacock]()
Best for Monday Night GamesPeacock
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![YouTube TV]()
Best for Recording GamesYouTube TV
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![Fubo]()
Best for NBA Fans Who Don't Want to Miss a MomentFubo
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![Prime Video]()
Best for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday GamesPrime Video
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![DirecTV]()
Best for RSN CoverageDirecTV
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![Sling TV]()
Best for Channel Add-OnsSling TV
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Hulu]()
Best for On-Demand and Live TV StreamingHulu
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Hulu is an excellent streaming service for sports fans, with a basketball lineup that includes ABC, ESPN, and NBC (but not NBA TV). It has NBC Sports RSNs but lacks Bally Sports and SportsNet RSNs. All subscribers enjoy the Enhanced Cloud DVR functionality, which increases the available DVR storage from 50 hours to 200 hours.
Who It's For
Anyone seeking streaming convenience without abandoning traditional, live TV. Hulu's basic on-demand streaming plan currently costs $11.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $18.99 per month. College students can get Hulu's ad-supported version for a ridiculously low $1.99 per month. The Hulu + Live TV plan costs $76.99 per month and combines Hulu's live TV service with the ad-supported streaming plan. Have a large family? Add the Unlimited Screens package, which gives you an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home (and up to three outside of it) for $9.99 per month.
Specs & Configurations
Ads Anime Concurrent Streams 2 or Unlimited (at home) and 3 (mobile devices) DVR Storage & Retention Unlimited; 9 Months Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage FOX, FS1, and TBS Monday Night Football ESPN NBA Finals ABC Offline Downloads on Mobile On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Original Programming Regular Season National NBA Coverage ABC, ESPN, and TNT Regular Season National NHL Coverage ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT RSN Coverage NBC Sports Sports Coverage International*, National, & Regional Starting Price $11.99 per month; $88.99 per month Sunday Football CBS and FOX; NFL RedZone (via Add-On) Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football FOX and NFL Network World Series Coverage FOX Learn More Hulu Review -
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![Peacock]()
Best for Monday Night GamesPeacock
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
A new deal with the league means you can now watch numerous live NBA games on NBC, and you can watch many of those games online through NBC's Peacock streaming service. During the season, Peacock streams doubleheaders every Monday night. Peacock will also air select playoff games.
Who It's For
B-ball veterans. NBA on Peacock is a homecoming of sorts, with NBC even bringing back the classic John Tesh-penned theme from when the sport aired on the channel years ago. Fans from the NBA's TBS/TNT era must now include Peacock in their viewing mix, as the exclusive Monday games make the service a must-watch. The $16.99-per-month Premium Plus tier doesn't offer additional sports coverage, but it allows you to download titles for offline viewing on mobile platforms and watch most on-demand content without ads.
Specs & Configurations
Ads Concurrent Streams 3 DVR Storage & Retention None Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage None Monday Night Football None Offline Downloads on Mobile On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Original Programming RSN Coverage None Sports Coverage International & National Starting Price $7.99 per month Sunday Football None Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football None World Series Coverage None Learn More Peacock Review -
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Credit: YouTube
![YouTube TV]()
Best for Recording GamesYouTube TV
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
YouTube TV offers a diverse selection of TV networks that cater to basketball fans, such as ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and NBC. On the regional sports network front, YouTube TV has all NBC Sports RSNs, but not the Bally Sports RSNs or SportsNet RSNs.
Who It’s For
YouTube TV is for people who want to record basketball action. With YouTube TV, you get unlimited cloud DVR storage (recordings are kept for up to nine months), up to three simultaneous device streams, and support for six user accounts. All those features are useful when family members want to watch different programs that are set to air at the same time. Additionally, YouTube TV is one of the few services that streams live channels in 1080p. The 4K Plus add-on has many benefits, including 4K streams and the ability to watch DVR recordings offline.
Specs & Configurations
4K Live Streams Ads Concurrent Streams 3 or Unlimited (at home) DVR Storage & Retention Unlimited; 9 Months Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage FOX, FS1, and TBS Monday Night Football ESPN NBA Finals ABC On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Regular Season National NBA Coverage ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT Regular Season National NHL Coverage ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT RSN Coverage NBC Sports Sports Coverage National & Regional Starting Price $82.99 per month Sunday Football CBS and FOX; NFL RedZone (via Add-On) Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football FOX and NFL Network World Series Coverage FOX Learn More YouTube TV Review -
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Credit: Fubo
![Fubo]()
Best for NBA Fans Who Don't Want to Miss a MomentFubo
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Fubo has ABC and ESPN sports programs, as well as some Bally RSNs. MSG (New York Knicks), NBC Sports RSNs, and Root Sports (Portland Trailblazers) are part of the lineup, too. Want NBA TV? Plunk down an extra $10.99 per month for the Sports Plus add-on.
Who It's For
Fubo is for sports fans who don't want to miss a beat. Its plans let you record unlimited hours of DVR content and stream on three screens simultaneously. Its other cool features include Lookback (which lets you watch select sports programs up to 72 hours after they've aired) and Startover (which enables you to restart certain live events from the beginning).
Specs & Configurations
4K Live Streams Ads Concurrent Streams 2 or 10 DVR Storage & Retention Unlimited Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage FOX and FS1 Monday Night Football ESPN NBA Finals ABC On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Regular Season National NBA Coverage ABC and ESPN; NBA TV (via Add-On) Regular Season National NHL Coverage ABC and ESPN; NHL Network (via Add-On) RSN Coverage AT&T SportsNet and some NBC Sports Sports Coverage International, National, & Regional Starting Price $84.99 per month Sunday Football CBS and FOX; NFL RedZone (via Add-On) Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football FOX and NFL Network World Series Coverage FOX Learn More Fubo Review -
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![Prime Video]()
Best for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday GamesPrime Video
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Amazon has partnered with the NBA to stream select live games throughout the season on Prime Video. Amazon airs Thursday doubleheaders, Saturday afternoon games, and special Black Friday matchups. All this makes Prime Video an essential streaming platform for NBA fans.
Who It's For
Amazon is ideal for watching notable matchups as part of your Prime subscription services. But that's not all; Amazon also produces the All or Nothing series, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at various professional sports teams. With Prime Video, you can stream content on up to three devices at the same time.
Specs & Configurations
4K Streaming Yes Ads Anime Audio Descriptions Concurrent Streams 5 DVR Storage & Retention None Live TV Monday Night Football No Offline Downloads on Mobile On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Original Programming Parental Control Tools Device-based or Kids Mode Rentals and Purchases Built-in options Sports Coverage Thursday Night Football, plus National sports (via Channel add-ons) Starting Price $8.99 per month Sunday Football None Sunday Night Football No Supported Platforms Media Streaming Devices (Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Roku), Microsoft Store, Mobile (Android and iOS), Game Consoles (PlayStation and Xbox), Smart TVs, and Web Thursday Night Football Prime Video Top Original Movies Blow the Man Down, Honey Boy, Manchester by the Sea, My Spy, Troop Zero, The Aeronauts, The Big Sick, The Sound of Metal, and The Report Top Original Shows Bosch, Catastrophe, Electric Dreams, Fleabag, Good Omens, Hanna, Homecoming, Hunters, Jack Ryan, Tales From The Loop, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Patriot, The Boys, Undone, Upload, and Utopia Learn More Amazon Prime Video Review -
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Credit: DirecTV
![DirecTV]()
Best for RSN CoverageDirecTV
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
DirecTV's entry-level Entertainment tier ($84.99 per month) includes several essential sports channels, including ABC, ESPN, and NBC. However, it lacks NBA TV. To get that channel and RSNs, you must upgrade to the $114.99-per-month Choice plan. The RSNs are provided by Comcast (although a few NBC Sports RSNs are missing), Spectrum, and Sinclair.
Who It's For
With its local and national channels, DirecTV is ideal for basketball fans who need help navigating the complex world of regional sports networks. It also offers unlimited DVR storage and keeps recordings for up to nine months.
Specs & Configurations
Ads Anime Concurrent Streams 20 (at home) and 3 (away from home) DVR Storage & Retention 20 hours or Unlimited, nine months Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage FOX, FS1, and TBS Monday Night Football ESPN NBA Finals ABC On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Regular Season National NBA Coverage ABC, ESPN, and TNT Regular Season National NHL Coverage ABC, ESPN, NHL Network, TBS, and TNT RSN Coverage AT&T SportsNet, Bally Sports, and some NBC Sports Sports Coverage International*, National, & Regional Starting Price $101.98 per month Sunday Football CBS and FOX Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football FOX World Series Coverage FOX Learn More DirecTV Review -
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Credit: Sling
![Sling TV]()
Best for Channel Add-OnsSling TV
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Sling TV's Orange plan includes ESPN, but you must pay for the $11-per-month Sports Extra to get NBA TV. Sling TV doesn't include your local ABC channel, but you can set up an antenna and receiver to watch ABC via Sling. However, that process requires you to spend money on additional hardware. To get more channels and a few NBC Sports RSNs (and keep all the channels from the Orange plan), upgrade to Sling TV's combined Orange + Blue plan ($60 per month).
Who It's For
Sling TV is great for viewers who want to customize their streaming sports package. Sling TV includes 50 hours of DVR storage with a subscription, but you can increase that limit to unlimited hours for an extra $5 per month. Currently, you can't stream any live content above 720p.
Specs & Configurations
4K Live Streams Ads Anime Concurrent Streams 1 (for Sling Orange channels), 3 (for Sling Blue channels) DVR Storage & Retention 50 hours or unlimited; Indefinitely Live TV MLB Playoffs Coverage FOX (in select markets), FS1, and TBS Monday Night Football ESPN NBA Finals ESPN3 (simulcasts of ABC) On-Demand Movies and TV Shows Regular Season National NBA Coverage ESPN and TNT; NBA TV (via Add-On); ABC (via Antenna) Regular Season National NHL Coverage ESPN, TBS, and TNT; NHL Network (via Add-On); ABC (via Antenna) RSN Coverage None Sports Coverage International*, National, & Regional Starting Price $46 per month; $66 per month Sunday Football FOX; NFL RedZone (via Add-On) Sunday Night Football NBC Thursday Night Football FOX and NFL Network World Series Coverage FOX (in select markets) Learn More Sling TV Review -
Compare Specs
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Rating |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
3.5 Good |
3.5 Good |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
Best For | Best for On-Demand and Live TV Streaming | Best for Monday Night Games | Best for Recording Games | Best for NBA Fans Who Don't Want to Miss a Moment | Best for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Games | Best for RSN Coverage | Best for Channel Add-Ons | Best for On-Demand and Live TV Streaming | Best for Monday Night Games | Best for Recording Games |
Starting Price | $11.99 per month; $88.99 per month | $7.99 per month | $82.99 per month | $84.99 per month | $8.99 per month | $101.98 per month | $46 per month; $66 per month | $11.99 per month; $88.99 per month | $7.99 per month | $82.99 per month |
Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ABC, ESPN, and TNT | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT | ABC and ESPN; NBA TV (via Add-On) | ABC, ESPN, and TNT | ESPN and TNT; NBA TV (via Add-On); ABC (via Antenna) | ABC, ESPN, and TNT | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT | |||
RSN Coverage | NBC Sports | None | NBC Sports | AT&T SportsNet and some NBC Sports | AT&T SportsNet, Bally Sports, and some NBC Sports | None | NBC Sports | None | NBC Sports | |
NBA Finals | ABC | ABC | ABC | ABC | ESPN3 (simulcasts of ABC) | ABC | ABC | |||
DVR Storage & Retention | Unlimited; 9 Months | None | Unlimited; 9 Months | Unlimited | None | 20 hours or Unlimited, nine months | 50 hours or unlimited; Indefinitely | Unlimited; 9 Months | None | Unlimited; 9 Months |
Concurrent Streams | 2 or Unlimited (at home) and 3 (mobile devices) | 3 | 3 or Unlimited (at home) | 2 or 10 | 5 | 20 (at home) and 3 (away from home) | 1 (for Sling Orange channels), 3 (for Sling Blue channels) | 2 or Unlimited (at home) and 3 (mobile devices) | 3 | 3 or Unlimited (at home) |
Buying Guide: The Best NBA Streaming Services for 2026
How to Watch the NBA Without Cable
If you don't want to miss a minute of the on-court action, you need a live TV service that covers the games in your market, or subscribe to one of the NBA-owned services that lets you watch your favorite out-of-market team. Unlike NFL games, not all NBA matchups air on national channels. Instead, many games are broadcast on regional sports networks (RSNs) that are available only to subscribers who reside in the local markets those channels cover.
Most RSNs are owned either by AT&T (SportsNet), Comcast (NBC Sports), or Sinclair (Bally Sports). A few of the SportsNet RSNs and others are Bally Sports affiliates, while other RSNs are joint ventures between media companies and individual teams. Don't confuse RSNs with your local broadcast affiliate; NBC Sports Philadelphia is different from that city's local NBC station.
Some competitions air on national channels, such as ABC, ESPN, NBC, and NBA TV, but you likely won't be able to watch your local team on those channels due to blackout restrictions. That's why it's important to know which RSN owns broadcast rights for your local team.
Currently, DirecTV includes Bally Sports, NBC Sports (though it is missing a few of these), and SportsNet RSNs. Fubo now has Bally Sports RSNs, but Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV do not. Again, the RSN you need depends on your location, so don't immediately discount a service that lacks a particular set of RSNs. For more information, search for a specific team using a streaming guide.
Note that starting with the 2025-2026 season, live NBA games will no longer air on Warner Bros. Discovery channels, which include TBS, TNT, truTV, and the HBO Max streaming service. You can find the marquee NBA games on ESPN, NBC, Peacock, and Prime Video.
What Is NBA League Pass?
The NBA has several subscription options: NBA TV ($8.99 per month), Team Pass ($13.99 per month), League Pass ($16.99 per month), and League Pass Premium ($24.99 per month). You must choose one of these plans to watch (or listen to) out-of-market games.
The NBA TV option provides access to live, out-of-market games and studio shows. Team Pass lets you watch live, out-of-market games for one squad. The League Pass has hundreds of out-of-market games from around the league. Meanwhile, the League Pass Premium tier gives you the same perks without commercials (and lets you simultaneously stream on two devices).
Note that none of the League Pass subscriptions lets you watch any nationally broadcast games live (those that air on ABC, ESPN, NBC, or NBA TV). Replays of those games are available three hours after the broadcast concludes. In-market games that are subject to local blackouts (those that air on your local regional sports network, or RSN) are available to watch three days after the live broadcast ends.
What Is the Best NBA Streaming Service?
It depends on what you want from a basketball streaming platform, but there are a few essentials. First, compare the services' feature sets. For example, if you want to record and re-watch games regularly, explore a service's DVR storage limits. If multiple people in your home want to watch games simultaneously, you need a service that supports multiple concurrent streams. Verify that the service you choose also supports your media streaming devices.
There's one last consideration: streaming resolutions. Fubo and YouTube TV support 4K live streams, but neither is set to broadcast NBA games at this resolution. That could change, however. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV support 1080p/60fps streams on select channels and devices, while DirecTV Stream, Fubo (for non-4K broadcasts), and Sling TV top out at around 720p resolution. Higher-resolution streams produce crisper images, while faster refresh rates help smooth out fast action.
How to Watch the NBA on Cable and Over the Air
Another way to ensure you can watch all the regular-season NBA games in your area is to sign up for a cable plan with a premium sports package that includes all the local RSNs. A cable plan is typically more expensive than live-streaming alternatives, but it's ideal for die-hard fans who want to access the broadest possible games for one price. Note that if you have a digital antenna, you can watch some of the games on ABC, assuming they aren't airing on your local RSN.
More into college basketball? Here's how to watch March Madness online. If you want to watch sports other than the NBA, check out our roundup of the best sports streaming services.