The Best Ways to Watch the NBA Legally Online

Its crunch time in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics facing off against one another in the NBA Finals. Two of the most popular Google searches during the series have been “what are the best NBA Finals odds?” and “how to watch the NBA Finals”.

Whilst we don’t have the expertise to answer the first Google search (the Warriors are the slight favourites though, we know that much at least…) we do have the answers to the latter. Read on to find out how you can watch the best of the NBA Final online and completely legally.

Traditional Networks

NBA games are broadcast on a range of different TV channels, the majority of which you need a subscription for. If you have an existing subscription for a network that is showing the NBA Finals in your area, then all you need to do is log in to their online platform to be able to stream it legally.

ESPN, ABC and TNT all have streaming apps that you can download on your PC, laptop or mobile device. Traditional networks not an option for you? Here are some other ways you can legally stream the NBA.

FUBO TV

Available in the USA, Canada and Spain, FUBO is a streaming service that allows you to watch ABC and ESPN coverage of the NBA under its Starter Plan which costs $65 a month. To get coverage of NBA TV you will have to upgrade to the Sports Plus Add-On which will cost an extra $11 a month.

TNT coverage is not included on any of the FUBO TV plans, so if the game you want to watch is on TNT, you might be better off with another streaming app.

(Unfamiliar with FUBO TV? Check out this review.)

SLING TV

At the other end of the cost spectrum is SLING TV, one of the cheapest sports streaming options out there. For just $35 a month you get access to ESPN and TNT as part of the Orange Plan. This doesn’t cover ABC, but NBA games on that network are usually shown on ESPN3 simultaneously.

If you want to add NBA TV to your plan you can do so by purchasing the Sports Extra package for an extra $11 a month.

HULU + Live TV

It’s not just fans of The Handmaid’s Tale that love HULU +, it’s also a great option for sports fans, in particular basketball lovers. For $65 a month you can get complete access to ESPN, TNT and ABC although unfortunately, there is no facility to add in NBA TV.

On the flip side though, you get everything in one place when it comes to live coverage and access to a great library of movies and TV shows.

(Watch this HULU + Live TV review before signing up.)

YouTube TV

The best value for money and the most convenient option for everything is YouTube TV, which for $65 a month includes ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. If you’re a new subscriber you can take advantage of their new signup bonus which knocks $10 off your first three monthly bills.

NBA League Pass

The last option for streaming is one that isn’t going to be very helpful if you follow one of the better teams in the league. The NBA League Pass, which costs $18 a month or $120 for the full season allows you to watch live every game your favourite team is involved in so long as the game isn’t broadcast live on national television.

Which means if your team gets to the NBA Finals you won’t be able to watch them on your NBA League Pass unfortunately. Unless of course, you’re an international fan and are accessing the streaming service from outside of North America, in which case, you can watch every game live no matter whether it’s on live TV or not.

Outside North America

If you’re outside of North America and want to watch the NBA on a streaming service, your best bet is to head over to YouTube. In some countries, the games are being streamed live and free on the app.

If you can’t watch the games through YouTube in your country or region, take a look at your national sports broadcasters streaming facilities. In the UK that would be Sky Sports, in Australia and New Zealand it’s ESPN and it varies in Europe.