Best & Cheapest Basketball Streaming 2025
We did the research so you don't have to. Here are the cheapest streaming combos to watch your favorite leagues and games.
How to Choose Your Streaming Setup
With basketball broadcast rights split across 7+ streaming services, choosing the right combination can save you hundreds of dollars per year. The key is understanding which services carry your favorite teams and leagues.
For casual fans: Start with one service that covers most of what you watch. ESPN is the best all-around choice for both NBA and college basketball.
For serious fans: You'll likely need 2-3 services. The ESPN + Fox bundle covers most major conference games, add Peacock for Big East and some NBA games.
For die-hard fans: Consider NBA League Pass for out-of-market games, plus the services below for national broadcasts.
Understanding Basketball TV Rights in 2025
Basketball broadcasting has changed dramatically in recent years. Gone are the days when you could watch most games on cable TV. Here's what you need to know about the current landscape:
NBA National Games (2025-26): This season features a new 11-year, $76 billion media deal. ESPN/ABC covers Wednesdays and weekends. NBC/Peacock has Mondays and Tuesdays. Prime Video broadcasts Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturday afternoons. TNT no longer carries NBA games.
Local NBA Games: If you want to watch your local team's non-national games, you'll need a regional sports network (RSN). Many RSNs have been acquired or rebranded in recent years. NBA League Pass works for out-of-market games, but local games are blacked out. Some teams now offer direct streaming through their own apps or through League Pass expansion deals.
College Basketball: Conference networks and ESPN dominate college hoops. The Big Ten has BTN, the SEC and ACC have their own ESPN networks, and most major games air on ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. Fox Sports also carries significant Big 12 and Big East content.
Money-Saving Tips for Basketball Fans
1. Use Free Trials Strategically: Most streaming services offer 7-day free trials. Time your signups around major events like March Madness or the NBA Playoffs to maximize value.
2. Consider Annual Plans: If you know you'll watch basketball all season, annual subscriptions typically save 15-20% compared to monthly billing.
3. Bundle When Possible: The ESPN + Fox One bundle ($39.99/month) is the best value for sports fans - it includes ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Big Ten Network, and more without needing cable. ESPN Unlimited alone is $29.99/month, or get Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Unlimited for $29.99/month (promo price).
4. Rotate Services: You don't need every service year-round. Subscribe to League Pass during the regular season, then switch to playoff-focused services in April.
5. Check Your Internet Provider: Some ISPs offer free streaming subscriptions. For example, certain plans include Peacock Premium or MAX at no extra cost.
National NBA Games (2025-26 Season)
Mon/Tue: Peacock | Wed/Sat/Sun: ESPN/ABC | Thu/Fri/Sat: Prime Video
NBA Playoffs (2025-26 Season)
Playoffs air on ESPN/ABC, NBC/Peacock, and Prime Video. Finals are exclusive to ABC.
NCAA Tournament (March Madness)
CBS and Turner networks broadcast March Madness
Big D1 College Games
Major conference games air on ESPN networks, Fox Sports, and CBS. Get ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/mo) or ESPN + Fox One bundle ($39.99/mo) for complete coverage.
Big Ten
Big Ten Network, Fox, CBS, NBC, and Peacock carry Big Ten games
SEC
SEC Network and ESPN coverage
ACC
ACC Network and ESPN coverage
Big East
Fox Sports and Peacock carry Big East games
Big 12
ESPN networks and Fox Sports carry Big 12 games
How to Watch: Service-by-Service Guides
How to Watch Basketball on ESPN / ESPN+
ESPN Unlimited: You can now stream ESPN channels without cable! ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPN on ABC - giving you access to NBA games on ESPN/ABC plus extensive college basketball coverage.
ESPN + Fox One Bundle: The best value for sports fans is the ESPN + Fox One bundle at $39.99/month. This includes everything in ESPN Unlimited PLUS Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. This covers nearly all major conference basketball games.
ESPN+ (ESPN Select): The basic ESPN+ tier ($12.99/month) includes college basketball coverage (SEC, ACC, Big 12 games) but does NOT include live NBA games on ESPN/ABC. For NBA, you need ESPN Unlimited.
Disney Bundle: Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited together for $29.99/month (promotional price) - an incredible deal that includes everything you need for NBA on ESPN.
Best For: Basketball fans who want ESPN and ABC games without cable. The ESPN + Fox One bundle is ideal for college basketball fans who need Big Ten Network.
How to Watch Basketball on Peacock
NBA Coverage: Peacock carries exclusive NBA games on Monday nights (up to 3 games) as part of NBC's new 11-year deal. This is NBC's return to NBA coverage after a 23-year absence.
Weekly Schedule: Monday nights are Peacock-exclusive with up to 3 games. Tuesday "Coast 2 Coast" doubleheaders air on NBC and stream on Peacock. Sunday Night Basketball begins in February.
Price: Peacock Premium costs $10.99/month or $109.99/year. Xfinity internet and cable subscribers often get Peacock Premium included free.
How to Sign Up: Visit peacocktv.com and create an account. Available on all major streaming devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and web browsers.
Best For: Essential for Monday/Tuesday NBA games, plus Big East college basketball and Premier League soccer.
How to Watch Basketball on Prime Video
NBA Coverage: Prime Video carries approximately 66 NBA games per season as part of the league's new $76 billion media deal. This includes Thursday night games, Friday night doubleheaders, and Saturday afternoon games.
Exclusive Content: Prime Video has exclusive coverage of all NBA Cup knockout rounds and the entire Play-In Tournament in April.
Price: Prime Video is included with Amazon Prime membership at $14.99/month or $139/year. If you only want Prime Video, it's available standalone for $8.99/month. Student pricing is available at 50% off.
How to Sign Up: Visit amazon.com/prime and sign up for Prime membership, or go directly to primevideo.com for the standalone option. Works on Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.
Best For: Essential for Thursday/Friday/Saturday NBA games. Already have Prime? You're covered! Also offers Thursday Night Football and other sports.
How to Watch Basketball on Max (HBO Max)
What You Get: Max (formerly HBO Max) includes TBS and truTV. Note: TNT no longer carries NBA games as of the 2025-26 season. However, Max is still essential for March Madness as Turner networks (TBS, truTV) carry half of the NCAA Tournament.
Price: Max with Ads costs $9.99/month, Ad-Free is $16.99/month, and Ultimate Ad-Free is $20.99/month. Annual plans save approximately 20%.
How to Sign Up: Visit max.com and create an account. Available on all major streaming platforms, smart TVs, and mobile devices. Some cable packages include Max access.
Best For: March Madness coverage (TBS/truTV carry half the NCAA Tournament). Note: Max is no longer needed for NBA since TNT exited. Also includes HBO's full library of shows and movies.
How to Watch Basketball on Paramount+
What You Get: Paramount+ carries CBS Sports content, making it essential for March Madness. CBS broadcasts half of the NCAA Tournament games, including the Final Four and Championship game. During the regular season, CBS also airs select college basketball games.
Price: Paramount+ Essential (with ads) costs $7.99/month. Paramount+ with Showtime is $12.99/month and includes premium movie channel content. Annual plans offer savings.
How to Sign Up: Visit paramountplus.com and create an account. The service works on all major streaming devices, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and mobile platforms.
Best For: March Madness fans who want to watch CBS tournament games. The service is most valuable during tournament time.
How to Watch Basketball on NBA League Pass
What You Get: NBA League Pass is the official streaming service for out-of-market NBA games. You can watch every team's games that aren't blacked out in your area. It includes live games, replays, condensed games, and classic games from the archive.
Price: League Pass costs $14.99/month or $99.99/season for all teams. Single-team packages are available for less. Premium tier ($22.99/month) removes ads during breaks.
Blackout Rules: Local team games are blacked out - you cannot watch your home team's games live on League Pass. National TV games (ESPN, ABC, Peacock, Prime Video) are also blacked out. Use a VPN at your own risk to bypass restrictions.
Best For: Out-of-market fans who want to follow a specific team, or basketball junkies who want to watch multiple games every night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to watch NBA games?
ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month) covers ESPN/ABC games (Wed/Sat/Sun) - no cable required! Add Peacock ($10.99/month) for Monday/Tuesday games and Prime Video (included with Amazon Prime at $14.99/month) for Thursday/Friday games. The ESPN + Fox One bundle ($39.99/month) is the best value if you also watch college basketball.
Can I watch my local NBA team without cable?
Local games typically air on regional sports networks (RSNs). If you're outside your team's local market, NBA League Pass is the best option. Some teams have started offering direct-to-consumer streaming options, and League Pass has been expanding to include more local game access in select markets. Check your team's official website for local streaming options.
What do I need to stream March Madness?
March Madness games are split between CBS and Turner networks (TBS, truTV). You need Paramount+ for CBS games and Max for Turner games. Some games are available free on the NCAA March Madness Live app/website with limited access. For complete tournament coverage, budget around $18/month total for both services.
What streaming bundles work best for college basketball?
For comprehensive college basketball coverage, the ESPN + Fox One bundle ($39.99/month) is the best option - it includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network, covering virtually all major conference games without needing cable. For an even better deal, the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN Unlimited bundle is $29.99/month (promo price) and covers ESPN channels.
Why are some NBA games blacked out?
Blackouts exist to protect local broadcast rights. When a game airs on your local RSN or a national network, it's blacked out on League Pass to encourage you to watch the local broadcast. Blackouts are determined by your IP address location. The only legal workarounds are to attend the game in person, watch on the designated network, or wait for the replay (usually available 3 hours after the game ends).
Do I need a smart TV to stream basketball?
No, you don't need a smart TV. You can stream on any TV using affordable devices like Roku ($30+), Amazon Fire TV Stick ($30+), or Google Chromecast ($30+). You can also connect a laptop via HDMI, use a gaming console (PlayStation, Xbox), or simply watch on your phone, tablet, or computer. Most streaming apps also support AirPlay and casting.
Which streaming service has the best picture quality?
Most major streaming services offer HD quality (1080p) for live sports. ESPN, Peacock, and Prime Video generally provide the most consistent quality with minimal buffering. Max and Paramount+ are also reliable. Picture quality depends heavily on your internet connection - aim for at least 10-15 Mbps download speed for buffer-free HD streaming, or 25+ Mbps for 4K content.
Can I share my streaming account with family?
Most services allow multiple streams on a single account, but policies vary. ESPN+ allows 3 simultaneous streams, Peacock allows 3, Max allows 2-4 depending on plan tier, and Prime Video allows 3. NBA League Pass allows 1-3 streams depending on your subscription level. Sharing outside your household may violate terms of service, though enforcement varies.