How to Watch the NBA Free Or Cheap In 2026-27

e By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man
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TV For Seniors has told you how to watch the NHL season free and cheap. Now we’ll explain how to watch the NBA free or cheap with the 2026-2027 season starting on Tuesday (October 20).

Watch National Games Free With An Antenna

The good news is that many big-time NBA contests now air free on regular broadcast channels.

• ABC and NBC carry dozens of national games, including the season opener and five Christmas Day matchups on ABC, starting at noon.

• An indoor or outdoor HD antenna can pull these in for free in most areas.
Look for a simple model with a clear “easy install” label. Place it near a window for the best signal. If you want more tips on how to install an indoor antenna, see our article here. It’s a senior-friendly guide.

More tips for seniors: Once the antenna is connected, use your TV’s “Scan for Channels” feature (usually under Settings or Channel Setup). The process takes only a few minutes.

Free Trials Worth Trying Right Now

These services let you test the waters with no (or very low) risk:

• YouTube TV: Offers up to 21 days free for new users. Includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and NBA TV in most areas. Easy to cancel. The current offer is a 10-day free trial but the length will likely vary during the season.

• Fubo: Offers up to 7 days free trial. Strong on sports channels and Fubo is probably happy that TNT, which it does not carry, no longer broadcasts NBA games.

• DIRECTV Stream: Usually offers a 5 day free trial. Good if you want a more traditional TV guide similar to what you may have used for cable and satellite.

• Peacock: Does not offer a free trial on its app but Amazon Prime does offer a 7-day freebie for Peacock which will carry 100 NBA games, including many exclusives.

• Amazon Prime Video – Included with an Amazon Prime membership (or try the 30-day Prime trial). Carries Amazon’s 66 NBA games for the 2026/27 season.

• NBA League Pass – New DraftKings promo offers three months free for new users who place a $5 bet (bonus bets also included). After that it is $16.99 a month. Cancel before the free period ends if you do not want to continue. Always set a phone reminder a day or two before the trial ends so you can cancel easily. If you want more guidance on how to cancel a free trial, see our article, The Free Trial Trap.

Also note that Amazon Prime offers a free 7-day trial for the League Pass.

Cheapest Paid Options After the Trials

If you decide to keep a service:

– Antenna+Peacock+Amazon Prime
This is a good choice for national games only. Approximate monthly cost: $20. A bit steep but you will see hundreds of games.

– NBA League Pass: Best for out-of-market games. Monthly cost $16.99. You can watch any team not in your local market.

– YouTube TV or Fubo: Best for a full live TV package. Approximate monthly cost $70 to $85 depending upon promotional rates.

– Team Pass On NBA League Pass (single team): Best for fans of one team. Monthly cost $13.99. But note that it only includes out-of-market games. For example, if you live in California, you could watch all New York Knicks games that are not on exclusive national broadcasts.

Local team games vary by market. Some teams now put many games on free over-the-air stations or make them available as separate packages on streaming for a monthly or season fee. Check your team’s official website for the exact options in your area.

Senior-Friendly Tips

• Use voice remotes whenever possible (Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV). Just say “Watch the Knicks game” or “Open Peacock.”

• Turn on closed captions for clearer audio. This is especially helpful to see the spelling of players with long names. (Yanic Konan Niederhause, we’re looking at you, my man.)

• Stick with one or two apps at first so the home screen stays simple.

• Avoid accidental charges by turning off auto-renew during free trials.

• If a menu looks too small, check the accessibility settings on your streaming device for larger text. For more tips on this, see our article here.

What Would The TV Answer Man Do to Reduce Costs

I would start with an antenna and then take advantage of any available free trial including the 30-day freebie to Amazon Prime which will carry 66 games. That’s a lot of games without paying a dime (besides the antenna cost if you don’t already have one.)

Happy viewing and stay safe!

Also See: How to Watch the NHL Free Or Cheap

Have a question? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com

The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.