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If you’re constantly flipping the channel to a basketball game, you probably want to know how to watch NBA TV. The network offers everything you’d want to see from the NBA—including live games, featured shows, replays of previous games, and more.
NBA TV, launched on November 2, 1999, is an American sports-oriented pay television network that’s owned by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and run by Warner Bros. Discovery through TNT Sports. It broadcasts NBA exhibition, regular season, and playoff games, along with analysis programs, specials, and documentaries. NBA was the first professional sports league to start a subscription network, followed by the NFL (NFL Network) and NHL (NHL Network).
What can you watch on NBA TV? NBA TV will air 130 exclusive games live (regional sports networks will also air the games) during the 2023-2024 season. Additionally, you’ll find a lot of analysis and commentary. According to DirecTV, NBA Gametime Live, NBA TV Marquee Matchup, Best of Crunchtime, and High Tops are among the most popular programs NBA TV offers. The network also features NBA TV originals—like series, documentaries, and interviews—some of which include Basketball Stories, Read or Not (Parts 1 & 2), Kobe Bryant: Throughout the Years, Allen Iverson: The Answer, and Everything But the Chip: The 2001 76ers.
These are just a few examples of what you can find on NBA TV, so keep reading to discover how to watch NBA TV to learn about its other programs.
How to watch NBA TV live for free
NBA TV is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, and Sling. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, which starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, which starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends. To watch NBA TV, you’ll need the Fubo Extra add-on, which is an additional $7.99 per month. Sling offers three plans—Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange + Blue—starting at $20 for your first month. Sling Orange includes ESPN and TNT, but to watch NBA TV, fans will need the service’s Sports Extra package. Sports Extra costs $11 per month when added to Sling Orange or Sling Blue or $15 per month if added to Sling Orange + Sling Blue subscription.
Best Overall Pick to Watch NBA TV: DirecTV Stream’s Free Trial
DirecTV is our best overall pick to watch NBA TV live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current promo where you can sign up for DirecTV and get up to a $200 VISA Reward Card. You can also save $50 over two months when you purchase the Choice or Ultimate package, which typically costs $108.99 per month but is down to $83.99 per month with the promo. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first two months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first two months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month. All plans include NBA TV, except for Entertainment.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA TV with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com
- Click “Shop Packages”
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBA TV and start watching
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch NBA TV: Fubo’s Free Trial
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch NBA TV live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. To watch NBA TV, you’ll need the Fubo Extra add-on, which is an additional $7.99 per month.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA TV with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBA TV and start watching
Best Budget Pick to Watch NBA TV: Sling
Sling is our best budget pick to watch NBA TV based on its price and current deals. Sling Orange costs $40 per month, Sling Blue costs $45 per month, and Sling Orange + Blue costs $60 per month. To watch the most basketball possible, subscribe to Sling Orange (which gives you ESPN and TNT), and then add the Sports Extra Package to watch NBA TV. Sports Extra costs $11 per month on top of the cost of your Sling Orange or Sling Blue base service. If you opt for a Sling Orange + Sling Blue subscription, Sports Extra costs $15 per month.
As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels (including 7 exclusive sports and family channels) and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Blue includes 42 channels (including 17 exclusive news and entertainment channels) and the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Alternatively, Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels (including all 22 exclusive channels) and the ability to stream on three devices at a time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch NBA TV with Sling.
- Visit Sling.com
- Click “Try Us Today”
- Create an account
- Choose your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBA TV and start watching
NBA TV Programming
- 10 Before Tip
- 3DTV
- Beyond The Paint
- Books and Basketball
- Courtside Cinema
- Game Of The Day
- Hardwood Classics (1999–present)
- High Tops: Plays of the Month
- Inside the NBA (2003–present) (encore telecasts within 12 hours of original airing on TNT)
- NBA 360
- NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
- NBA Action (2003–present)
- NBA Basketballography
- NBA.com Fantasy Insider
- NBA CrunchTime
- NBA Fit
- NBA Gametime Live (2008–present)
- NBA Gametime Live Specials
- NBA Home Video
- NBA Hoop Party
- NBA Inside Stuff (2013–2016)
- NBA Jam
- NBA Journeys
- NBA Presents
- NBA Slideshow
- NBA Specials
- NBA TV Top 10 Games of the Week
- NBA TV Marquee Matchup
- NBA TV Originals
- NBA Vault
- NBA Wired
- Open Court
- Playoff Playback
- Real NBA
- Real Training Camp
- Shaqtin’ a Fool (2013–present)
- The Beat
- The Starters (2006–2019)
- Vintage NBA
- WNBA Action
