Live 2025/26 NBA TV & Streaming Schedule

Where to Watch the 2025/26 NBA Season on TV & Streaming

The NBA is one of the most-watched sports leagues globally, with extensive coverage across multiple TV networks and streaming platforms. ESPN, ABC, and TNT currently hold national broadcasting rights in the U.S., ensuring that marquee matchups, playoffs, and the NBA Finals are accessible to millions of fans. Their agreement with the league runs through the 2024/25 season.

To find out exactly where to watch NBA games on TV from your location, use LiveSportsOnTV.com for the latest schedules and broadcast updates.

Regional Sports Networks (RSN)

While national broadcasts cover select high-profile games, most regular-season matchups are shown on regional sports networks (RSNs). These networks vary depending on your location, with some of the key broadcasters including:

• NBC Sports Regional Networks – Covers select teams across different regions.
• Bally Sports (formerly Fox Sports Regional Networks) – Broadcasts games for several NBA franchises.
• Spectrum SportsNet – Exclusive home for Los Angeles Lakers coverage.
• MSG Network – Home of the New York Knicks.
• AT&T SportsNet & Altitude Sports – Covers teams like the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz.

Fans who follow the NBA closely are well acquainted with the annoyance of regional blackouts. These restrictions are in place to uphold the exclusive broadcasting rights of regional sports networks (RSNs), minimizing local competition and aiming to boost stadium attendance by limiting access to live game broadcasts in certain regions.

Accessing the necessary RSNs to watch local games can be challenging. The DirecTV RSN Lookup Tool is a helpful resource; by entering your zip code, it informs you about the games available in your area and suggests the appropriate subscription packages.

A popular workaround for these regional blackout constraints involves the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). By encrypting your connection and masking your IP address, VPNs allow you to get past these restrictions. However, it's important to choose a VPN provider carefully, prioritizing those with strong security and privacy protections, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, to ensure a safe viewing experience.

Cable and Satellite Options

To ensure the most complete access to NBA action throughout the year, a cable package that incorporates the primary channels of ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT will be your best starting point. It is all about incorporating local and national channels into the set-up, and a combination of a cable package plus NBA League Pass will do that.

DirecTV, Cox, Dish, Optimum, and Verizon Fios all tick the boxes in terms of giving you the required channels for NBA action, with the added benefit of all featuring NBA TV. NBA TV is also available through NBA League Pass, which is detailed at the end of this section. These cable packages come at a higher cost than other options, but it's for a reason. They offer the best combination of national and local channels, in addition to a huge array of other channels.

• Cox - $61.00–$152.00 per month
• DirecTV - $69.99–$159.99 per month
• Dish - $84.99-$114.99 per month
• Verizon Fios - $69.00–$129.00 per month

Live Streaming Options

If you prefer streaming NBA games live, multiple platforms offer NBA live streaming, including:

• NBA League Pass – The best option for watching every out-of-market game live or on demand.
• ESPN+ & ESPN App – Streams select games, highlights, and analysis.
• TNT App – Watch exclusive TNT-broadcasted games online.
• Regional Sports Network Apps – Many RSNs offer direct streaming for subscribers.

For those without cable or living outside their favorite team's local broadcast area, streaming services can be your best friend. Sling TV emerges as a cost-effective alternative, particularly with its NBA Season Pass add-on. At a special rate, fans can access every out-of-market NBA game plus a very strong channel lineup that includes TNT, ESPN, and much more.

FuboTV comes in at a slightly higher cost but is an appealing option for sports fans, offering a wide variety of local and national sports broadcasts. The same can be said for YouTubeTV, but you will benefit from a smaller pool of channels to choose from, and then there is Hulu + Live TV, which combines national and local game access through its vast channel selection. Most of these streaming platforms will offer a variety of add-ons that will expand your sports viewing options, allowing you to include channels like Golf Channel, NFL Network, NFL Redzone, FOX Soccer Plus, and many more.

• fuboTV: $79.99 per month
• YouTube TV: $72.99 per month
• Hulu with Live TV: $76.99 per month
• SlingTV: $55 per month

How to Watch the 2025/26 NBA Season for Free

Gaining access to NBA games at no cost will depend on having the right broadcast networks accessible through digital antennas. This may allow for the viewing of some nationally broadcast NBA games, though they tend to be far and few between.

To consistently enjoy NBA action without a charge, you could explore the strategy of stacking free trials offered by streaming services. Platforms like Hulu, YouTube TV, and FuboTV generally provide 7-day free trials. By strategically timing these trials one after another, you can increase your access to NBA games over time. NBA League Pass also offers a 7-day free trial, giving you an extra platform to try. This is only a temporary solution as you will be reliant on the free trials available and, once you have used one, it's gone.

Please remember that it is very important to be vigilant about the expiration of these free trials. Failing to cancel in time can lead to automatic subscription fees, which are expensive.

Stay Updated with 2025/26 NBA TV Schedules and News

With the NBA season constantly evolving, staying informed is key. Use LiveSportsOnTV.com to check daily NBA TV schedules, live streaming options, and broadcast channels in your area. Never miss a game, whether it's the regular season, NBA Playoffs, or the NBA Finals!

*Offers, prices, and availability are subject to change. Please check with each streaming service for the latest details before purchasing

League Format

The NBA, National Basketball Association, is the top division of basketball in the United States, where some of the best players in the world compete every season. The league consists of 30 teams and was founded back in 1946 as the BAA (Basketball Association of America). Three years later, the league changed its name to what we know today as the NBA.

The number of teams in the NBA has varied throughout the years, but currently, there are 30 teams, with 29 from the USA and 1 from Canada. The current structure of the league is 30 teams divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference consists of three divisions with five teams in each division.

The regular NBA season starts in October and runs until April. Each team plays 82 games, following a predetermined schedule where teams from the same division play each other more frequently. After the regular season, the best teams advance to the playoffs. The playoffs are played in a knockout format where the teams face each other in a best-of-seven-game series. The teams with the better win/loss ratio from the regular season will have the advantage of an extra home game.

When the playoff series are played, only two teams remain: the winners of the Western and Eastern Conferences. These two teams will then compete in a final series called the NBA Finals. The winners will be crowned as the NBA champions and receive the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy.

NBA Draft

The NBA Draft takes place each year at the end of June, shortly after the NBA Finals. It’s the league’s way of allowing teams to select top college talent and international prospects to strengthen their rosters for the future.

Each franchise typically receives two picks, with the draft order determined in part by a draft lottery. This lottery involves all teams that did not qualify for the Playoffs. The four teams with the worst records have the highest odds (14%) of receiving the first overall pick. The rest of the draft order is set based on regular-season standings, with the team with the worst record picking earlier than teams with better records.

Want to know when the next draft takes place and how to watch it live? See our full NBA Draft TV & streaming guide here

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we have gathered some of the most commonly asked questions as a FAQ where you can find further information and instructions on how to use our live sports on tv schedule service to find TV and live streaming info for the game you are looking for.

Who won the 2025 NBA Finals?

The Oklahoma City Thunder secured their first-ever NBA championship since relocating to Oklahoma City—and their first title overall since 1979, when the franchise was known as the Seattle SuperSonics—by defeating the Indiana Pacers 103–91 in a decisive Game 7 on June 22.

What NBA games are on TV tonight?

Tonight’s NBA games and where to watch them live on TV or via streaming can be found in the broadcast schedule above. The schedule is updated daily with channel and time information.

How many NBA games are there tonight?

You can see how many NBA games are on tonight by checking the updated TV schedule above. Livesportsontv.com lists all games airing today, including times, channels, and live stream options.

What channel is showing the NBA?

NBA games are broadcast on national networks like ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV, as well as on regional sports networks. The TV schedule above provides exact channel details for each game.

Where can I find live streams for the NBA?

NBA games can be streamed live on NBA League Pass, ESPN+, Fubo, Sling TV, and other licensed platforms. Refer to the broadcast schedule above for direct links to official streaming services.