Now that the holiday season is over, it’s time to focus on the next NBA games. For avid basketball fans, there is no greater gift than watching the best players compete for a championship title as you explore NBA picks.
But keeping up with all the games can be challenging, particularly if you don’t have cable. Many individuals are now looking for ways to watch NBA games without paying for cable due to the growth of streaming alternatives.
One of the most popular streaming devices is Roku. So the question arises – is NBA free on Roku devices? We’ll talk about the best ways to watch NBA games on Roku and whether it’s free.
Is NBA on Roku Free?
A paid subscription to streaming services like NBA League Pass allows you to watch games. However, you might not see every match because all games are liable to blackouts. Still, the NBA app in the Roku Store offers free access to brief clips and analytics.
NBA League Pass offers NBA TV access for $17.99 monthly or $119.99 per season. You can get a modest discount if you only want to follow one club, beginning at $16.99 for monthly subscribers or $109.99 for the entire season. Also included in your membership is NBA TV.
NBA TV is like any other TV network, though it only focuses on full-time coverage and analysis. Additionally, they broadcast many complete games all year round.
Channels to Watch NBA Games on Roku
Besides NBA League Pass packages, you can watch NBA TV on fuboTV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, YouTube TV, plus other streaming services.
You must secure a subscription package from a participating satellite, cable, or TV provider. Then, access a suitable channel.
Below are the channels you can use to stream NBA matches on Roku.
ESPN
The four most well-known live TV streaming services, Youtube and Sling TVs, Hulu + Live TV, and fuboTV, all provide ESPN.
Each of these alternatives lets you watch the game on your TV. But if you signup for any of them, you can do so on a smartphone or computer via the Watch ESPN app or ESPN.com.
Since the sports channel heavily covers the league, you might be wondering if you can follow the NBA on ESPN Plus. The answer is: occasionally. ESPN Plus doesn’t stream most NBA games. However, ESPN Plus now provides simulcasts of a few ESPN NBA games (in both English and Spanish).
If you get the ESPN+ app ($4.99/mo.), you can begin streaming after activating your account through Roku.
TNT
Use live streaming services like YouTube TV to watch your preferred NBA team on TNT. You can get the services via subscription packages that include network access.
Besides games, you can also enjoy game analyses and halftime commentary from popular broadcasters, including
- K. Smith
- E. Johnson
- C. Barkley,
- S. O’Neal.
TNT is showing 65 NBA games this season. The channel will also be the sole broadcaster of this year’s NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
ABC
Unlike TNT where you only get 65 games from the 2022-23 season, ABC treats fans to a whopping 100 games.
ABC is a free channel that you can watch on your Roku device if you have a subscription to any of the TV providers like Sling TV.
You can watch NBA games on ABC via a dedicated app as well. To access the games, you must sign in with your TV provider’s credentials.
Besides the games, ABC provides regular analysis and highlights.
Winding Up
So, to answer the original question – is NBA free on Roku devices? The answer is yes and no. You can watch some of the NBA games for free with a good internet connection.
However, other games require a paid subscription to streaming services like NBA League Pass and ESPN+, among others.
Be sure to compare prices as these vary. For instance, here are starting monthly prices of some services as of press time:
- YouTube TV: $34
- fuboTV: $33
- Sling TV: $40
- DIrecTV Stream: $64.99
- Hulu + Live TV: $69.99
Besides, you may want an all-inclusive plan. So, finding a service that gives you access to all your favorite channels is equally as crucial as plan comparisons.