How to watch and live stream NBA basketball in the 2025 season

NBA League Pass offers two subscription plans: NBA League Pass and NBA League Pass Premium. NBA League Pass gives subscribers up to 40 out of market NBA games a week, with guaranteed streaming of the finals and play offs, and both standard and premium subscriptions include NBA TV.

NBA TV’s 24/7 stream brings you all the additional NBA content you could need, with interviews, match analysis and press conferences. So, whether you go for an independent League Pass subscription for NBA coverage or subscribe on top of your streaming service, you're guaranteed maximum coverage.

On-demand content is also a huge strength of subscription, with match archives allowing you to watch historic playoffs as far back as the 2012-13 season. Match highlights are also included, so if you just want to re-watch the magic, or you missed the game, NBA League Pass has you covered.

The League Pass is great for flexible on the go streaming, as it's mobile friendly and can be used on other smart devices and gaming consoles.

The big downside of the pass is that standard subscription only allows games to be streamed on one device at a time, and it also includes advertisements - however it does allow for Multiview, so you can tune into four games at once on the same screen.

If you don't mind paying a little extra the League Pass Premium increases the number of simultaneous streams to three device and gives users in-arena content during commercial breaks.

The NBA League Pass is an ideal investment for anyone whose current streaming subscription doesn't include NBA TV and doesn't want to change provider. But, in all honesty, any Basketball fan who wants maximum NBA coverage should consider a subscription, as no TV Network is able to compete with the quantity of live or on-demand NBA content.

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The competitively priced ESPN (formerly ESPN+) offers access to NBA action with a simulcast of games shown on their own ESPN TV channel, as well as those shown on ABC.

Basketball fans with an ESPN subscription can also enjoy the FIBA Basketball World Cup, as well as their back catalogue of exceptional documentaries including the 30 for 30 series that includes The Last Dance.

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DirecTV's Choice subscription provides users with NBA TV, ESPN and TNT which gives basketball fans coverage of 257 matches, and full coverage of the NBA playoffs. As a satellite provider DirectTV is also able to give basketball fans substantial coverage of their regional sports networks, based on your location.

It's important to check which networks are included in your local area, as the likes of ABC may not be available in your location. However, you'll have reliable live tv coverage of the broadcast NBA games for your local teams if DirecTV services your area.

No matter which DirecTV subscription you go for, it's going to be pricey with subscriptions ranging between $89.99 and $169.99 per month. But, with DirecTV you're paying for variety and it's not only great basketball content on offer.

A subscription to the DirecTV Ultimate includes NFL RedZone and NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, Golf Channel, NHL Network, and Tennis Channel.

DirecTV has extensive sports channels included in its lineup. So if you want to stream all your regional sports and nationally broadcast matches from one service, DirecTV's the one for you.

RELATED: How to watch live sports on DirecTV: Soccer, basketball, football and more

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Sling TV wins the game of affordable streaming, including ESPN and TNT with Orange subscription. That's around 150 games throughout the regular season, for only $45.99 per month.

Sling Orange doesn't feature ABC which is a jump scare at first, as ABC has broadcasting rights to the NBA finals. However, to put deterred fans at ease, Sling Orange does comes equipped with ESPN3 in its lineup, which simulcasts a number of games from ABC. Sling subscribers also have access to the ESPN app with their provider login details, so additional NBA matches can be viewed through that service.

If you're set on comprehensive out-of-market coverage, Sling is still a great option for you as you can purchase an NBA League Pass for an additional $16.99 per month. The NBA League Pass includes NBA TV and broadcasts up to 40 games a week, so is a must have for any hardcore basketball fans out there.

That's world-class NBA coverage, for the combo price of $62.98 per month.

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