Q. I love watching the NBA games, but I don't always see the best games because my local team pre-empts them and some games don't start until 10 or 11 at night! Is there any way I can watch NBA games on my own time?
-Brendan, from Orlando, FL, listens to my national radio show on WDBO 96.5 FM.
A. It's always tough for fans that don't live by their teams, isn't it, Brendan? It's even worse when the local team dominates the airwaves. If they're not one of the better teams, you could miss out on watching some of the league's top players!
I've talked in the past about how tough it is to watch NFL games online for free. Basketball is no different. It moves faster than other sports, so illegitimate online streams will be especially buggy and have the potential for viruses. And that's not even considering the legal trouble you could find yourself in.
There are dozens of legal ways to watch online and on your schedule, though. Whether you want to see the games on your TV, laptop or mobile gadget, you can watch all of the best players and plays all season long.
The best way to watch every game is with the NBA's League Pass service. This gives you up to 40 out-of-market games every week. That means there you could watch a game every night and you won't have to settle if your local game is a dud.
The full service costs $180. That's a fair price considering it's opening up hundreds of games you wouldn't see otherwise. Plus, if you pay full price, it gives you full access to games no matter what device you choose to use.
If you plan on watching on only one device, you can save big. League Pass' mobile app is $50 for the whole season. You can still watch all of the live games you'd be able to watch with your TV.
The app has game replays in case it's a late tip-off, too. As you watch the games, you can see stats and highlights from other games in the NBA.
There's a Web-only pass, but it costs $27 a month. If you plan on watching all season long, you'll save only a few dollars compared to buying the complete package. That would be the best investment as long as you can buy League Pass in your area.
If you don't want to pay cash to watch the games, you can try your luck with Watch ESPN. It gives you dozens of games, including the NBA, MLB and college sports for free. You can tap into even more if you have a cable subscription from a participating provider.
Need more sports action after the final buzzer? Put these fantastic apps on your smartphone to help you turn every day into game day.
- Don't bother with the water cooler chat when you can talk sports on your phone. Download this free sports talk app.
- You don't need to be 6'10'' to dunk like Blake Griffin.Play as your favorite hoops superstars in this fun mobile game.
- Following all your favorite teams with one app isn't a dream. Make it a reality with this great, free app.
