Essentials

What is NBA League Pass? What you need to know about the basketball streaming service

By Meredith Gordon

Edited By Fox Van Allen

February 27, 2024 / 3:04 PM EST / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a three-point shot over Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz and Kris Dunn #11 during the game at Footprint Center on February 08, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Whether you're a new NBA fan who can't get enough of Steph Curry's epic three-pointers, or you're a diehard fan who saw Michael Jordan play in person, watching an NBA game never disappoints.

Finding out how and when to watch NBA games, especially elusive out-of-market games, can take the fun out of NBA fandom. This season, all nationally televised NBA games will air on ABC, ESPN, TNT, TBS or NBA TV. If you don't have a cable subscription, or you want to watch games not locally broadcast in your area, NBA League Pass is a subscription-based streaming platform that gives fans access to watch every out-of-market game (plus nationally televised NBA games) live and on demand.

The NBA streamer starts at just $50 for the season, but you can enjoy a seven-day free trial to see what the NBA League Pass offers. Keep reading for details on what you get with the NBA League Pass, and how to subscribe.

Try NBA League Pass free

NBA League Pass: Your ticket to watching out-of-market NBA games

While some teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors are scheduled to play nationally televised games for nearly half their season (the Lakers will compete in 40 nationally televised games this season, for example), not every NBA team gets a national broadcast. Each NBA team has a local affiliate that airs its games for the local market, but those out-of-market NBA games can be nearly impossible to watch from home. That's where NBA League Pass comes in.

Stream every NBA game with NBA League Pass

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama. Getty Images

If you want to catch out-of-market NBA games, NBA League Pass gives you the most access to the most basketball games this season. With the NBA League Pass, you can watch out-of-market games live and on-demand, plus get round-the-clock NBA TV coverage. With an upgraded NBA League Pass Premium subscription, you get everything included in the NBA League Pass, plus you'll be able to stream live and on-demand games on up to three different devices at a time -- and get access to the in-arena stream for the game of your choice.

NBA League Pass is currently priced at $15 per month. NBA League Pass Premium costs $23 per month. NBA League Pass offers a seven-day free trial.

Note: NBA League Pass has some blackout games, which means certain local games and all nationally broadcast games will be available three hours after the live broadcast. All subscription tiers include access to live radio broadcasts of all NBA games.

Watch the NBA for free with NBA League Pass

Stream national and local NBA games on Sling TV and get NBA League Pass

If you don't have cable TV that includes ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and NBA TV, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream NBA games this year, and still get access to local programming, is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to 46 channels, including TNT and ESPN, plus local ABC affiliates (where available) with its Orange + tier. But what sets Sling TV apart is its NBA League Pass offering, which gives you special access to watch every out-of-market NBA game live.

Sling TV has a special NBA Prepay Bundle offer for those interested in NBA League Pass: You'll pay $50 per month for Sling Orange + NBA League Pass. After six months, the bundle will be priced at the regular price of $55 per month.

NBA League Pass is available as a $15 per month a la carte offering, though you'll pay just $10 for your first month. You can learn more by tapping the button below.

You can learn more by tapping the button below.

Top features of Sling TV Orange + NBA League Pass:

There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
You get access to most local NBA and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage, perfect for recording all the biggest games of the season.
With Sling TV Orange + NBA League Pass, you'll get access to all the NBA games you want to watch (minus local blackout games), plus network programs airing on NBC, ABC, Fox and more. It's the most cost-effective way to watch out-of-market NBA games and local network programming.

Watch NBA games on Sling TV