NBA Streams: Free Streams to Watch NBA Live
The 2021 NBA Season will get underway on December 22, with numerous opportunities to watch NBA online free or pay for quality programming, including but not limited to ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. The season will feature 72 games, making for a somewhat shorter but equally exciting basketball season.
This year’s action will not see a bubble with most teams able to play at home, close to fans, and in front of live crowds. Yet, to make sure you never miss a moment of your favorite team’s march towards the NBA title this year, we recommend exploring several live streaming options that will allow you to watch NBA live, free.
If you don’t have paid cable, we feel live TV streaming is your best bet, and thankfully, there are many fantastic NBA game live stream services to explore right now. If you opt for just the free trial options to watch NBA free, you will have 38 days of free trials to enjoy between the different channels.
How to Watch NBA Games Live (Free)
All the following have a free-trial (at the time of writing) to let you watch NBA TV live stream free so you can sign up to them and cancel straight away. Note their annual costs outside of that free trial so be sure to check your regional availability and local offers before committing to any free trials and cancel before renewal.
| Streaming Option | Cost | Available Programs |
| YouTube TV | $65 | ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV |
| FuboTV | $65 | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV (additional fee) |
| AT&T TV Now Max | $80 | ABC, ESPN, NBA TV |
| Hulu Live TV | $65 | ABC, TNT, ESPN |
| Sling Orange | $30 | TNT, ESPN, NBA TV (additional fee) |
Ways to Watch NBA Live Stream Free (Legally)
The trouble with paid cable is you do not always get access to all games, and to be able to actually watch all your favorite games, you will have to switch between channels, subscriptions and more.
A much simpler and more elegant way is to explore some of the options that allow you to watch NBA games free online at first, and then, in exchange for a small fee, let you enjoy the entire NBA season and watch NBA finals without any interruptions.
TL;DR: If you want to know how to watch NBA games for free, we’ve made that simple with the following sequence of free trials:
The first option to consider is of course YouTube TV.
YouTube TV ($65/month)
- Free trial: 2 weeks
- Monthly fee: $65
YouTube TV makes for a fantastic overall pick. It costs $65 per month, and it provides you with all the major stations that have NBA broadcasting rights, including ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. The good news is you can pick and watch NBA games for free via the online stream as part of the trial period that lasts 2 weeks.
The subscription makes for a great viewership experience and unlimited cloud DVR, allowing you to save your favorite moments and revel in great NBA viewership experience.
You can benefit from three simultaneous streams, meaning the cost can be easily split between friends who are keen on watching the NBA.
The solution has a dedicated iOS and Android map and it will work well with a number of devices, including but not limited to: Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and more.
FuboTV ($65)
- Free trial: 7 days
- Monthly fee: $65
FuboTV is a fantastic option if you are an NBA buff and want to watch free NBA games live, for at least the first seven days. The service offers a 7-day free trial to enjoy, and charges you a $65 monthly fee afterwards.
The downside of FuboTV is that it doesn’t have NBA TV in the base package, and the NBA is the main reason why you want to get it in the first place. In exchange for an additional $6, though, you will be able to open access to NBA TV.
AT&T TV Now Max ($80)
- Free trial: 7 days
- Monthly fee: $80
This solution is clearly one of the priciest, but if you are a true fan, you may consider it as an option to watch NBA games.
The good news is that you can once again benefit from a free live streaming experience, thanks to the 7-day trial should you consider purchasing the MAX PLUS subscription.
For $80 a month, AT&T TV Now max is far from cheap, but it has everything to offer, including numerous regional sports networks and a full uninterrupted coverage of all NBA games.
Another benefit of this solution is that it is not binding and you don’t need any special equipment to start watching NBA games for free on live stream during the first seven days. The solution provides you with 500 hours of DVR, which is fair
Hulu Live TV ($65)
- Free trial: 7 days
- Monthly fee: $65
Another worthwhile option to watch NBA games this season is to opt for Hulu Live TV. The service has a number of regional channels covered, including TNT, ESPN and ABC, but unfortunately it doesn’t offer NBA TV.
The service allows you to enter your ZIP code so you can quickly see what channels will be available to you. You can watch NBA games free on Firestick by opting for Hulu, which comes with a 7-day trial.
Hulu works with a wide range of platforms and operating system, including but not limited to Mac & PC, Roku, Android and iOS, Xbox, PlayStation 4&5, Nintendo Switch and many other devices.
Sling Orange ($30)
- Free trial: 3 days
- Monthly fee: $30
Sling Orange doesn’t look bad at first glance. It offers you a decent subscription and coverage, and costs only $30 a month. However, you need to pay an extra $15 to access NBA TV, and the base package covers ESPN and TNT while missing out on many regional options.
Conversely, though, Sling makes for a great option if you are looking to stream NBA games. In the meantime, you can benefit from the 3-day trial and have a look around the platform and see if you like it.
Compatibility wise, Sling works with pretty much every popular device, including TVs & players, phones & computers, and gaming consoles. Definitely not a bad option, but some sacrifices must be made.
NBA League Pass & App
- Free trial: Not available
- Season fee: $199
If you want to have a wholesome viewership experience, the NBA App and NBA League Pass may be just what you need. The entire NBA season will be available for just $199 or $249 if you choose to replace commercial breaks with stadium feed.
If you just want to watch one team instead, you can buy the Team Pass and follow your squad to the very end. League Pass makes perfect sense, but you must consider one significant drawback.
The Away games may not be broadcast nationally and you may not be able to get access to those games. NBA TV is not included on League Pass and it costs $60 to switch on. All in all, the NBA can definitely work a bit on its distribution.
In Conlusion – How to Watch NBA Games for Free Online in 2020/21
If you are not yet quite sure which NBA free stream option to start with, you could try activating all the trials sequentially.
This will give you at least 38 days of free NBA content and watch the league games free of charge.
In other words, you will have access to almost half of the regular season if you time your subscriptions well, or are even willing to make a few sacrifices and skip a week or two.
If you want a quality experience and to watch NBA games on live stream online we recommend going with the tried and trusted paid method for zero interruptions and minimal issues.
Otherwise, if you’re willing to put the time in, the combination of free trials on this page should be enough to let you watch almost half of the season with the right timing.
