NBA 2025-26 streaming changes explained: How to watch all NBA games live
Our in-house cybersecurity experts and journalists, renowned for major reports like The Mother of All Breaches, conduct transparent, unbiased VPN testing and in-depth analysis.
With 750+ articles crafted based on real-world research, we empower readers to make informed purchasing decisions through first-hand expertise.
Learn more
The 2025-26 NBA season begins a new chapter in how basketball fans watch games. After ending its long-running partnership with Turner Sports and TNT, the NBA signed new 11-year media deals with NBC/Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, and ESPN/ABC.
These platforms now share all national broadcasting rights, and all offer direct streaming access. However, because these networks hold exclusive domestic rights, their games are not available on NBA League Pass in the US and Canada. League Pass will show only out-of-market games that aren’t nationally televised.
Continue reading to find all the details and learn how to watch every NBA game live.
NBA streaming services overview (2025-26 season)
With the NBA’s new broadcast deals taking effect in the 2025-26 season, every major network now offers its own streaming access. NBC returns with Peacock, Amazon joins the lineup, and ESPN/ABC have shifted their coverage to the new ESPN App. Meanwhile, NBA League Pass remains the go-to option for out-of-market games, and regional networks continue to carry local broadcasts.
The table below shows which services you’ll need, how much they cost, and the approximate number of games each will stream this season.
| Streaming service | Price/plan needed | Games per season (approx.) | What you can watch |
| NBC/Peacock | Premium $5.99/month (ads), Premium Plus $11.99/month (ad-free) | ~100 games | Peacock NBA Monday, Sunday, primetime, select playoffs |
| ESPN/ABC (via ESPN App) | Unlimited plan $29.99/month (Select plan doesn’t include live games) | ~80 games | Regular season, playoffs, NBA Finals |
| Amazon Prime Video | $14.99/month (Prime), $8.99/month (Prime Video only) | ~66 games | Regular season, play-in tournament, early playoff rounds |
| NBA League Pass | $14.99/month, $99.99/season | ~980 live out-of-market games (US/Canada) | Regular season (non-national, out-of-market) |
| Local RSN/team apps (Bally Sports+, MSG+, Jazz+, Suns Live) | $15.00-30.00/month, depending on market | Varies by team (most home/away local games) | In-market broadcasts only |
Tournament and special event coverage
Below, I break down where to watch the NBA’s tournaments and special events, from the playoffs to the All-Star Weekend, including exclusive streaming options and regional broadcasts.
- NBA playoffs. Broadcast nationally on ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video (no League Pass access).
- NBA Finals. Exclusively on ABC (also streams through the ESPN App Unlimited plan).
- Play-in tournament. Streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in the US.
- All-Star Weekend. Shared between NBC/Peacock and ESPN/ABC (exact event split will be announced closer to February).
- Summer League and preseason. Available on NBA League Pass and select ESPN App broadcasts.
- Local in-market games. Those not shown on national networks can be streamed through each team’s regional or direct-to-consumer service, such as FanDuel Sports Network, MSG+, NBC Sports regional channels (via Peacock add-on), or team-run platforms like Jazz+ and BlazerVision.
Watch NBA 2025-26 from anywhere with a VPN
Away from home and can’t access your usual NBA streams? Many services that show games this season, including Peacock, ESPN App, and Amazon Prime Video, are only available in the United States. Likewise, regional team apps such as FanDuel Sports Network, MSG+, or BlazerVision are restricted to local viewing areas.
Using a VPN isn’t just about privacy – it’s one of the most practical tools for basketball fans this season. Here’s how a VPN helps to stream NBA games:
- Watch from anywhere. A VPN lets you access your home streaming accounts, such as Peacock, ESPN App, Prime Video, or your local team’s RSN app, even if you’re traveling abroad.
- Bypass NBA League Pass blackouts. League Pass blocks in-market and nationally televised games in the US and Canada. Connecting through a different region removes those blackouts, so you can watch your team live.
- Access local team streams outside your market. Platforms like FanDuel Sports Network, MSG+, and BlazerVision only work within certain states. A VPN lets you appear back home and regain access while traveling.
- Unlock more international coverage. Fans abroad can switch to regions where NBA League Pass International includes all games live without restrictions.
- Maintain fast, secure connections. Reliable VPNs like NordVPN reduce ISP throttling and encrypt your data, keeping streams smooth and private on any network.
For a full list of recommended VPNs and setup instructions, see our detailed guide on the best VPNs for NBA streaming.
National and local streaming options by team
With the NBA’s new media deals in effect for the 2025-26 season, fans now need a mix of national and local streaming services to follow their favorite teams.The table below lists every NBA team, showing how many times they appear on national broadcasts (NBC/Peacock, ESPN/ABC, and Amazon Prime Video) and which local or regional streaming service carries their regular in-market games.
It also includes the monthly or seasonal price for each service and direct links to where fans can subscribe or learn more, making it easy to see which platforms you’ll need to watch your team throughout the season.
| Team | NBC/Peacock | ESPN/ABC | Prime Video | Local streaming service and its price |
| Atlanta Hawks | 6 | 3 | 2 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Boston Celtics | 8 | 7 | 5 | NBC Sports Boston (via Peacock add-on) – included with Peacock add-on |
| Brooklyn Nets | 3 | 1 | 0 | Gotham Sports App – YES Network – $25.00/month or $240.00/year |
| Charlotte Hornets | 1 | 1 | 1 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Chicago Bulls | 4 | 1 | 1 | Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) – $19.99/month (1 team) or $29.99/month (all 3) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 8 | 9 | 2 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Dallas Mavericks | 8 | 8 | 7 | TEGNA Dallas-Fort Worth stations (WFAA/KFAA) – available OTA or via streaming |
| Denver Nuggets | 7 | 11 | 5 | Altitude Sports – Altitude+ subscription service |
| Detroit Pistons | 7 | 3 | 3 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Golden State Warriors | 10 | 12 | 9 | NBC Sports Bay Area (Peacock add-on) – $17.95/month add-on |
| Houston Rockets | 9 | 10 | 6 | Space City Home Network – available via cable/satellite |
| Indiana Pacers | 5 | 1 | 3 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 7 | 4 | 4 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 11 | 12 | 6 | Spectrum SportsNet – via Spectrum cable/streaming |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 3 | 2 | 3 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Miami Heat | 1 | 1 | 2 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 8 | 4 | 3 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 7 | 9 | 6 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0 | 1 | 0 | Pelicans+ – Gulf Coast Sports Network subscription |
| New York Knicks | 9 | 11 | 7 | Gotham Sports App – MSG+ – $30.00/month or $280.00/year |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 11 | 9 | 8 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Orlando Magic | 3 | 1 | 3 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 6 | 4 | 3 | NBC Sports Philadelphia (Peacock add-on) – included with Peacock add-on |
| Phoenix Suns | 7 | 1 | 1 | Arizona’s Family Sports – available via local providers |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 6 | 0 | 1 | BlazerVision – $120.00/season |
| Sacramento Kings | 6 | 1 | 1 | NBC Sports California (Peacock add-on) – $17.95/month add-on |
| San Antonio Spurs | 3 | 8 | 5 | FanDuel Sports Network – $19.99/month or $189.99/year |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | 0 | 1 | Sportsnet (Canada) – included with most Canadian TV/streaming bundles |
| Utah Jazz | 1 | 0 | 1 | Jazz+ – team-run service (pricing varies, from $19.99/month) |
| Washington Wizards | 2 | 0 | 1 | Monumental Sports Network – $19.99/month |
You can find the full NBA schedule here.
More about NBA streaming services
Below you’ll find more information about the main NBA 2025-26 streaming services, what they’ll broadcast, pricing, and other key details.
NBC/Peacock
NBC returns to NBA coverage for the first time since 2002, airing up to 100 regular-season games each year. The lineup includes the new Peacock NBA Monday series, weekend doubleheaders, and select playoff rounds.
All games will stream live on Peacock Premium, priced at $5.99/month with ads or $11.99/month ad-free. Access to the games will also be available through the NBC Sports app on smart TVs, mobile, and desktop.
Because NBC and Peacock hold exclusive national rights, these matchups won’t be available live on NBA League Pass in the US or Canada. Viewers abroad using NBA League Pass International can still stream them live without restrictions.
ESPN/ABC (and the new ESPN App)
ESPN and ABC will air around 80 national games during the 2025-26 NBA season, including playoff matchups and the NBA Finals. Starting this year, these broadcasts stream through the new ESPN App, which replaces ESPN+ as the network’s primary digital platform.
The ESPN App offers two subscription tiers:
- Select Plan ($11.99/month) carries ESPN+ content such as UFC events, college sports, and original shows, but not live ESPN or ABC channels.
- Unlimited Plan ($29.99/month) includes full live access to ESPN’s cable channels and ABC simulcasts, letting you stream nationally televised NBA games without a cable provider.
In short, fans who want to watch NBA games airing on ESPN or ABC through streaming must have the Unlimited plan or a live TV bundle (like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, or Fubo) that carries those networks.
These national broadcasts remain exclusive to ESPN and ABC, which means they are blacked out on NBA League Pass in the US and Canada. League Pass subscribers can only watch those games after they’re added as replays.
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon joins the NBA’s broadcast lineup with roughly 66 regular-season games, all play-in tournament matchups, and select early-round playoff games.
Games stream on Prime Video, included with an Amazon Prime membership ($14.99/month or $139.00/year), or via a standalone Prime Video subscription ($8.99/month). Amazon’s coverage also features alternate commentary streams and live stats overlays.
Like the others, these national broadcasts are exclusive to Prime Video, so NBA League Pass users in the US and Canada won’t be able to watch them live. The blackout applies until replays are released after the game.
NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass is the league’s official streaming service for out-of-market games – matchups not shown on local or national TV.
In the US and Canada, it offers about 980 live regular-season games for the 2025-26 season. Games broadcast nationally on NBC, ESPN, ABC, or Amazon Prime Video, as well as local team games, are blacked out due to exclusive rights. Those matchups become available on replay a few hours after they end.
International League Pass subscribers can watch almost all 1230 regular-season games live, including local teams, since blackout rules don’t apply outside North America.
Subscriptions start at around $14.99/month or $99.99/season, available through the NBA App or watch.nba.com on most devices.
