The NBA's Broadcast Situation
The NBA's national TV deals split games across TNT (Max), ESPN/ABC (ESPN+/YouTube TV), and Amazon Prime Video starting with the 2025–26 season. Local games air on regional sports networks (RSNs) — the trickiest part of cord-cutting for NBA fans.
National Game Coverage by Service
| Network | Streaming Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| TNT | Max (with Live TV add-on) or YouTube TV | $30/mo or $73/mo |
| ESPN / ABC | YouTube TV, Hulu Live, or ESPN+ | $73/mo or $11/mo |
| NBA TV | NBA League Pass (includes NBA TV) | $18/mo |
| Amazon Prime Video | Prime Video (starting 2025–26) | $15/mo |
Local Team Games (RSNs)
This is where cord-cutting gets complicated. Most local NBA games air on regional sports networks like Bally Sports, NBCS Regional, or MSG. These channels are not available on most streaming services.
Your options for local games:
- DirecTV Stream — the only major streaming service that still carries most Bally Sports RSNs. Starts at $80/mo.
- NBA League Pass — streams out-of-market games only. Local games are blacked out.
- The team's own app — some teams (Lakers, Warriors, Celtics) have their own streaming options. Check your team's website.
The Best Setup for NBA Fans
National games only ($73/mo): YouTube TV covers ESPN, ABC, and TNT. Add NBA TV via League Pass for $18/mo if you want extra coverage.
Local + national ($80–$95/mo): DirecTV Stream covers RSNs plus ESPN and TNT. Most expensive option but the most complete.
Budget option ($29/mo): NBA League Pass ($18/mo) + Prime Video ($15/mo). You get out-of-market games and Amazon's national games. Local games are blacked out.
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals air on ABC — which means they're free over-the-air with an antenna, and available on YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and fuboTV. No special subscription required.
How GridCast Helps
GridCast shows every NBA game on tonight's schedule with the exact streaming service for each game — including local RSN games where available. Tap any badge to go directly to the stream.