The 2023-24 NBA season is going strong, with the playoffs just weeks away. You can watch the matchups, as well as Victor Wembanyama's stellar rookie season, 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 making a move.
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, followed by what you need to know to watch pro basketball online.
Table of Contents
Hulu
Best for On-Demand and Live TV Streaming
Why We Picked It
Hulu is an excellent streaming service for sports fans. The basketball lineup includes ABC, ESPN, and TNT, but not NBA TV. It has NBC Sports RSNs, but lacks Bally Sports and SportsNet RSNs. Other sports channels in Hulu's lineup are BTN, CBS Sports Network, FS1, Golf Channel, NFL Network, and NBC Sports Network. The optional Español add-on ($4.99 per month) gets you international sports coverage via ESPN Deportes.
Who It's For
Anyone seeking streaming convenience without abandoning traditional, live TV. Hulu's basic on-demand streaming plan currently costs $7.99 per month, while the ad-free version is $17.99 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. All subscribers now enjoy Enhanced Cloud DVR that increases the available DVR storage from 50 hours to 200 hours. You can also add the Unlimited Screens package (it allows an unlimited number of concurrent device streams in your home, and up to three outside of it) to your plan for $9.99 per month.
PROS
- Excellent selection of TV series
- Extensive live TV channel lineup
- Robust cloud DVR option
- Available on nearly every media streaming device
- Appealing bundle deals
CONS
- Base on-demand plan includes ads
- Offline downloads feature requires premium account
- Fewer high-quality originals than competitors
- Missing most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $7.99 per month; $75.99 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ABC, ESPN, and TNT |
| RSN Coverage | NBC Sports |
| NBA Finals | ABC |
| DVR Storage & Retention | 50 or 200 hours; Indefinitely |
| Concurrent Streams | 2 or Unlimited (at home) and 3 (mobile devices) |
YouTube TV
Best for Replacing Cable
Why We Picked It
YouTube TV has a great selection of TV networks for basketball fans. The lineup includes ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT. The service includes all NBC Sports RSNs, but not the Bally Sports RSNs or SportsNet RSNs. Additional sports channels on YouTube TV are Golf Channel, MLB Network, NFL Network, Tennis Channel, and Olympic Channel. FOX Soccer Plus and NFL RedZone are available in the $10.99-per-month Sports Plus Add-On.
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. In addition, YouTube TV is notably one of the few services that streams live channels in 1080p. A new 4K Plus add-on lets you stream select live channels in 4K, watch DVR recordings offline, and stream from an unlimited number of devices on your home network.
PROS
- Excellent lineup of sports, news, and entertainment channels
- Robust and easy-to-use DVR features
- Intuitive interface
- Supports three simultaneous streams per account by default
- Excellent add-ons
- Select a la carte channel options
CONS
- Lacks most SportsNet and all Bally Sports RSNs
- Basic parental control options
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $72.99 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV, and TNT |
| RSN Coverage | NBC Sports |
| NBA Finals | ABC |
| DVR Storage & Retention | Unlimited; 9 Months |
| Concurrent Streams | 3 or Unlimited (at home) |
Fubo
Best for Sports Fanatics
Why We Picked It
Fubo offers ABC and ESPN sports programs, as well as some Bally, but not TNT. You must pay an extra $11 per month for the Sports Plus add-on to get the NBA TV channel. MSG (New York Knicks), NBC Sports RSNs, and Root Sports (Portland Trailblazers) are part of the lineup. Other sports channels on Fubo are CBS Sports Network, FS1, Golf Channel, and NFL Network. In addition, Fubo has an impressive international sports lineup: beIN Sports, GOL TV, and TUDN are just a few of the available options.
Who It's For
Fubo is for all sports fans. Its plans let you record up to 250 hours of DVR content, which it keeps forever. The Cloud DVR 1000 add-on ($16.99 per month) increases that limit to 1,000 hours. All plans let you stream on three screens at once, but the Unlimited Screens add-on ($9.99 per month) increases the limit to 10 devices on your home network (and two outside of it). Fubo's 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).
PROS
- Lots of live sports and on-demand entertainment
- Reliable streaming
- Excellent web interface
- Capable DVR functionality
- Some 4K content
CONS
- Costly add-ons and packages
- Most live streams limited to 720p
- Lacks A&E and Turner channels
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $79.99 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ABC and ESPN; NBA TV (via Add-On) |
| RSN Coverage | AT&T SportsNet and some NBC Sports |
| NBA Finals | ABC |
| DVR Storage & Retention | Unlimited |
| Concurrent Streams | 2 or 10 |
Max
Best for TNT
Why We Picked It
Max's new sports offerings now have live broadcasts of NBA games on Warner Bros. Discovery channels including TBS, TNT, and truTV. Not all competing services offer these channels, so it's a compelling pitch. Max broadcasts all regular season games as well as playoffs, All-Star Weekend, and more. Currently, Max's sports tier comes included with a normal subscription, but starting in 2024 it will cost an extra $9.99 per month.
Who It's For
If you want access to NBA on TNT, Max is one of the best, easiest, and most affordable streaming options. It's also a top streaming service overall thanks to its modern features and a huge library spanning everything from prestige TV, to live news, to excellent animation, to the world's most irresistible reality TV garbage. Max offers other sports, too, such as hockey and soccer.
PROS
- Huge catalog of popular shows and movies from many sources
- Attractive apps
- User profiles and parental control tools
- Ad-free tier lets you download content for offline viewing
- Live news and sports
- Ultimate tier includes far more 4K content than HBO Max did
CONS
- Relatively expensive
- Ad-supported tier doesn't support offline downloads
- Potentially dramatic library changes
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $9.99 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | TNT |
| RSN Coverage | None |
| NBA Finals | TNT |
| DVR Storage & Retention | None |
| Concurrent Streams | 4 |
Sling TV
Best for Channel Add-Ons
Why We Picked It
Sling TV's Orange plan includes ESPN and TNT, 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 is a pain and 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), you can 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 200 hours for an extra $5 per month. Currently, you can't stream any live content above 720p. Sling TV is available on mobile phones, streaming devices, Xbox consoles, and the web.
PROS
- Good channel selection
- Flexible subscription options
- Free tier
- Reliable streaming performance
- Movie rentals
CONS
- Prices continue to increase
- Limited offering of local channels and regional sports networks
- Confusing channel distribution
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $40 per month; $60 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ESPN and TNT; NBA TV (via Add-On); ABC (via Antenna) |
| RSN Coverage | None |
| NBA Finals | ESPN3 (simulcasts of ABC) |
| DVR Storage & Retention | 50 or 200 hours; Indefinitely |
| Concurrent Streams | 1 (for Sling Orange channels), 3 (for Sling Blue channels) |
DirecTV Stream
Best for RSN Coverage
Why We Picked It
DirecTV Stream's entry-level Entertainment tier includes ABC, ESPN, and TNT, but not NBA TV. To get that channel and RSNs, you must upgrade to the $108.99-per-month Choice plan. As mentioned, DirecTV Stream features RSNs from Spectrum, Comcast (it is missing a few NBC Sports RSNs), and Sinclair. The Choice plan also includes ACC, Big 10 Network, ESPNews, ESPNU, MLB Network, and Tennis Channel.
Who It's For
With its local and national channels, DirecTV Stream is for basketball fans who need help tracking the tricky world of regional sports networks. It offers unlimited DVR storage and keeps recordings for up to nine months. Not only is this a massive improvement that brings it more in line with competing services, but it's highly convenient for sports fans.
PROS
- Reliable streaming performance in testing
- Supports 20 simultaneous streams on home network
- Lineup includes RSNs from Comcast, Sinclair, and Spectrum
- Includes parental control options
CONS
- Expensive
- Some interface quirks
SPECS
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $79.99 per month |
| Regular Season National NBA Coverage | ABC, ESPN, and TNT |
| RSN Coverage | AT&T SportsNet, Bally Sports, and some NBC Sports |
| NBA Finals | ABC |
| DVR Storage & Retention | 20 hours or Unlimited, nine months |
| Concurrent Streams | 20 (at home) and 3 (away from home) |
How to Watch the NBA Without Cable
If you don't want to miss a minute of the on-court action, you need to find a live TV service that covers all 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 games air on national channels. Instead, most 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 Sinclair (Bally Sports), Comcast (NBC Sports), or whatever is left of AT&T (SportsNet). A few of the SportsNet RSNs and others are affiliates of Bally Sports, 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 games do air on national channels, such as ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV, but you likely won't be able to watch your local team on these channels because of blackout restrictions.
In other words, a game that airs on NBA TV for most people will be shown only on the RSN that covers each team in their respective local markets. That's why it's important to know which RSN owns broadcast rights for your local team. At the time of publishing, Bally Sports RSNs cover 15 NBA teams, NBC Sports RSNs feature six NBA teams, and AT&T's SportsNet RSNs handle local broadcasts for three NBA teams. The rest are managed by other media companies solely or in partnership with other media organizations or individual teams. Note that this all will change as Warner Bros. Discovery sells off the former AT&T SportsNet RSNs. Instead, WBD now offers TNT, TBS, and truTV NBA games through its Max streaming service.
Currently, DirecTV Stream 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, check out this list of regional NBA broadcasters or search for a specific team on The Streamable.
What Is NBA League Pass?
The NBA offers several subscription options: NBA TV ($59.99 per year), League Pass ($99.99 per year), and League Pass Premium ($149.99 per year). You need to choose one of these plans to watch (or listen to) out-of-market games.
The NBA TV option gives you access to live, out-of-market games that air on NBA TV. With this plan, you can also stream NBA TV studio shows. The Team Pass plan ($89.99 annually) lets you watch live, out-of-market games for one team. The League Pass plan lets you watch hundreds of out-of-market games from around the league, while the League Pass Premium tier gives you the same perks without commercials. Only the League Pass Premium tier 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, TNT, or NBA TV). Replays of those games are available three hours after the broadcast concludes. In-market games subject to local blackouts (those that air on your local RSN) are available to watch three days after the live broadcast ends.
What Is the Best NBA Streaming Service?
What else do NBA fans need to know? First, you should compare the technical specifications of these streaming services before deciding which is best. For example, if you want to record and re-watch games regularly, check out a service's DVR storage limits. If there are a lot of people in your home who all want to watch TV at the same time, you need a service that supports many concurrent streams. Verify that whatever service you pick supports all the media streaming devices you own, too.
One last consideration is the streaming resolution that the services support. Fubo and YouTube TV (via an add-on) both technically support 4K live streams, but neither appears to be set to broadcast any NBA games at this resolution. That could change, however. Both Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV support 1080p/60fps streams on select channels and devices, while DirectTV 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 that 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 great for people who want to get the broadest possible variety of cable TV networks 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.
Ben Moore contributed to this article.
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