There is a growing number of people that are fed up with cable television networks choosing to ?cut the cord? and opting for on-demand streaming services instead. If you are one of those cord-cutters and you still want to enjoy your fix of the NBA action ? now that the season?is set to return in Florida from the end of July ? read on as we outline the easiest ways to watch NBA basketball without the need for cable.
There will be considerable interest in the return of the NBA, which will be staged in Florida?s Disney World complex. Training camps will begin at the end of this month ahead of landing in Orlando from July 7. There is still a three-way fight for favoritism among the leading sportsbooks to win this year?s NBA Championship. The Bucks are currently slight favorites, although the two LA-based franchises, the Lakers and the Clippers, are not far behind. There is a distinct possibility that two NBA icons could lock horns in the NBA Finals, with LeBron James potentially going head-to-head with Milwaukee?s Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Unfortunately, the NBA has joined the Major League Baseball in having most of its nationally televised games broadcast on the league?s exclusive cable network ? NBA TV. The remainder of the games is shared across TNT, ESPN, and ABC. However, there are plenty of ways to catch those big game moments without a cable subscription.
Table of Contents
Over-the-air antennas
A good starting point is to look for an over-the-air television antenna that can be attached to your television. These antennas will hunt for ABC signals within a short radius, so providing you are near enough to an ABC affiliate broadcast tower, this could help you get access to 19 of the nationally televised games this season.
PlayStation Vue
If you are the proud owner of a PlayStation 4, you should consider the PlayStation Vue subscription package. For the cost of $50 a month, you will get access to live streams from the major broadcast networks, including ESPN, ABC, and TNT. As a PlayStation VUE customer, you can also use your account to watch regional broadcasts via Fox Sports Go and NBC Sports apps for free.
Sling TV
Sling TV is arguably one of the easiest and cheapest ways to stream NBA action at home. Available for a fraction of the cost of PlayStation Vue at only $15 a month, the Orange package with Sling TV will gain you access to ESPN and TNT live broadcasts. Combine Sling TV with an ABC over-the-air antenna and that means the only games you?re missing out on are those streamed exclusively via NBA TV.
AT&T TV Now
If you are prepared to part with $50 a month for PlayStation Vue, it might also be worth considering the AT&T TV Now package also. For the same price, the Plus package will give you over 50 on-demand channels, which is several more than you receive for the same price with PlayStation Vue.
FuboTV
There was a time when FuboTV focused solely on providing live-streamed soccer games. However, it has broadened its horizons of late to include a string of other major league sports, including the NBA. The $55-a-month Basic package gives you access to TNT as well as the exclusive NBA TV channel. The platform also connects to multiple regional sports networks, which may enable you to watch broadcasts for your local team, if you are lucky.
NBA League Pass: The ?hardcore? option
Of course, if you want the pinnacle of live-streamed NBA action as a cord-cutter, look no further than the NBA League Pass. For $29 a month or the cost-effective $200 annual subscription, you can stream every out-of-market game live that?s not broadcast on any of the major national networks. If you are a hardcore NBA fan that wants to watch multiple games at once, consider the League Pass subscription for $40 a month or $250 a year, giving you access to four games simultaneously on desktop and mobile devices.