How to Watch NBA Games Live With a VPN (Tested in 2026)

• Written by Kate Hawkins Former Editor

NBA games are available to view in many countries on cable, IPTV services like YouTube TV or DirecTV, and with the NBA League Pass. Depending on your offer, you may be subject to regional blackouts due to copyright and broadcast restrictions.

Technically, it’s possible to use a VPN to view NBA content that isn’t available in your location , but my team and I don’t recommend this — it likely goes against your streaming platform’s terms of use and could constitute a copyright violation.

You can still use a VPN to keep your NBA viewing private and secure. Many VPNs aren’t good for streaming, but our global team has found several that are fast and safe. ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming NBA games , and you can try it risk-free with its 30*-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.

Watch the NBA with ExpressVPN

Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch the 2026 NBA

1. Get a premium VPN. ExpressVPN is ideal for streaming NBA games .
2. Connect to a local server. You can manually choose a server, or have your VPN detect the best option for smooth streaming.
3. Start streaming NBA games! Visit your streaming platform, log in, and watch the action live.

Important! The VPNs recommended in this article are strictly zero-log services, so they won’t track or log your online activity. It is your responsibility to abide by applicable laws and regulations when using your VPN. My team and I do not condone breaking terms of use or violating copyright.

The Best VPNs to Watch the NBA in 2026

1.ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Watching the NBA Online — Blazing-Fast Speeds With No Lag

Key Features:

• 3,000+ servers in 105 locations
• Blazing-fast speeds for zero lag during NBA games
• Stream sports on up to 14 devices at once
• Watch the NBA on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, smart TVs, and more
• 24/7 customer support through live chat, email, knowledge base, and FAQs
• 30*-day money-back guarantee

ExpressVPN is the top choice for streaming every NBA 2026 game due to its blazing-fast speeds that won’t cause lag or buffering while you’re watching the game. Our international team ran multiple speed tests connected to ExpressVPN’s server network, and speeds were consistently fast. The average reduction was just 18% and barely noticeable to the connections. These speeds are more than enough for UHD streaming, meaning you get uninterrupted viewing of all the key moments during the game.

I was pleased to find I could stream NBA games on multiple platforms, like my PC, iPhone, and smart TV, as ExpressVPN has native apps for a huge range of devices . The apps are easy to download and install, so it takes almost no time (less than 5 minutes) to connect to an ExpressVPN server and start streaming.

If your device doesn’t support a VPN, ExpressVPN has a MediaStreamer SmartDNS feature. This lets you change the DNS settings on devices like game consoles and older smart TVs. While it doesn’t offer the encrypted protection of a regular VPN connection, it’s ideal for NBA games as it provides a much faster connection.

As ExpressVPN has more than 3,000+ servers in its global network , you won’t face user congestion when watching NBA games. All the servers our team tested had reliable connections, with no interruptions or drops, for continuous streaming.

I suggest you try streaming NBA games with ExpressVPN for yourself and see if it’s right for you. You can purchase ExpressVPN with confidence, too, as the service is backed by a 30*-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied for any reason, you can get a full refund, no questions asked. I tested the process, and it was easy — a live chat agent processed my refund request in less than 3 minutes, and I had my money back in just 5 days.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.

2.CyberGhost — Dedicated Streaming Servers to Watch the NBA

Key Features:

• More than 11,690 servers in 100 countries
• Optimized streaming servers for DAZN, Hulu, Sky, Sling TV, and YouTube TV
• Supports 7 simultaneous connections
• Stream NBA games on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, smart TVs, and more
• 24/7 live chat, email ticketing, and online help site
• 45-day money-back guarantee

CyberGhost’s optimized servers provide guaranteed connections to your local sports streaming services . You can watch DAZN, Hulu, Sky, Sling TV, and YouTube TV through dedicated servers to ensure you can start streaming NBA games without issue. Plus, you’ll find CyberGhost staff regularly test and update these connections, so they’re always working.

These dedicated servers are also optimized for speed, meaning you can watch the NBA 2026 season without lag or interruptions. Our global team ran speed tests on CyberGhost’s optimized servers, and speeds were only reduced by around 25%. If you find there isn’t an optimized server for your streaming service, CyberGhost’s regular servers are still reliably fast .

You can stream NBA games on various platforms, as CyberGhost has native apps available for many popular devices . You can also connect up to 7 devices at the same time, which is useful if you want to stream a game while your family catches up with Netflix or Disney+.

If you want to use your VPN with a smart TV , game console, or another device that doesn’t support VPNs, you can use CyberGhost’s Smart DNS. Unfortunately, this is only available for residents in the UK, Japan, and Germany.

The downside to CyberGhost is that it is an expensive short-term option , and monthly offers have a short 14-day money-back guarantee. This isn’t ideal if you want to fully test the service — I found 2 weeks simply wasn’t long enough to make sure it was right for me.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.

3.Private Internet Access (PIA) — Huge Server Network Makes Streaming the NBA Easy

Key Features:

• Huge network of 29,650+ servers in 91 countries
• Customizable encryption level to boost speed for lag-free sports streaming
• Connect unlimited devices at the same time
• Watch the NBA 2026 season on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more
• 24/7 customer support — email, live chat, Twitter, and online knowledge base
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Private Internet Access (PIA) has a huge server network ideal for streaming NBA games. With more than 29,650 servers, the international team didn’t experience any user congestion or issues connecting to their local servers to start streaming — even during major games, like the playoffs.

I was pleased to find PIA’s server speeds are reliably fast . During tests, our global team found speeds were fast enough for lag-free NBA streaming, around 51 Mbps on average. I recommend using the WireGuard protocol to keep speeds fast.

If your regular connection speeds are slower, you can configure PIA’s encryption to give yourself a speed boost for better stream quality . You can maintain high-level security and improve speeds by reducing the encryption level from AES-256-bit to AES-128-bit. This can make a noticeable difference to your NBA streaming.

You can try streaming NBA games with PIA risk-free , as the service has a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested the process myself and contacted the 24/7 live chat. The agent asked if they could troubleshoot any issues to avoid canceling and promptly processed my request when I confirmed I wanted my money back. I had the money returned to my account in less than a week.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.

Using a Free VPN to Watch the NBA Isn’t a Good Idea – Here’s Why

I’ve done extensive testing on some of the top free VPNs on the market . Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any free VPNs for watching the NBA online due to data restrictions, speed limitations, and only a handful of server connections.

These restrictions lead to overcrowded servers and low-quality streams — the VPN can’t allocate enough resources to help you get a stable connection. You’ll likely also have issues watching your streaming service, as many free VPNs simply don’t work with streaming platforms.

You can bypass all of these problems by getting a quality premium VPN like CyberGhost . Its large and secure network makes it a top choice for watching the NBA online — and CyberGhost has a generous 45-day money-back guarantee you can use as a free trial. Plus, getting your money back is easy thanks to CyberGhost’s “no questions asked” policy.

I tested the process myself, and my refund was arranged in just a couple of minutes. Best of all, I had my money back in less than a week.

The 2026 NBA Season Schedule

Here are the key dates for the 2026 NBA season:

Where to Watch the 2026 NBA Online

With a quality VPN and a good streaming service, you can easily watch the NBA online.

No, there aren’t any official free online NBA broadcasters — but you can check the list of streaming providers to find one with a free trial , like YouTube TV or fuboTV. Plus, all recommended VPNs have money-back guarantees of 30 days or more. If you combine them, you can watch more than 100 games with no risk.

CyberGhost’s generous 45-day money-back guarantee is ideal for watching the NBA . Once you’re finished streaming, or if you change your mind about subscribing, you can get a full refund within 45 days. I tried the process myself, and it was easy — I had my money back in less than a week.

Yes, all 3 channels will be streaming some 2026 NBA games. However, if you’re in the broadcast area, I recommend the official NBA International League Pass for the best NBA viewing experience — you get full access to all games with no regional blackouts, mobile viewing, and high-resolution live streams and replays.

You can find ABC, ESPN, and TNT on various streaming platforms listed above, including Sling TV, AT&T TV NOW, and Hulu + Live TV. It’s important to note that these channels don’t broadcast every game, and you may be subject to regional blackouts depending on your location.

Yes, the NBA offers streams and commentary from various countries and languages worldwide . I recommend streaming NBA games using the official International League Pass , as this is available in most countries, with a few exceptions (the US, Canada, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba, and some areas of Africa and the Middle East).

Here are some of the ways you can stream the NBA in specific countries:

• Australia: ESPN (also accessible through the Fetch or Foxtel Go apps if you have an Optus or Foxtel offer but requires an Australian phone number), NBA TV, and SBS (limited games)
• Canada: RDS (French language), Sportsnet, TSN Direct
• France: beIN sports
• Germany: DAZN, NBA TV, Spox.com (limited games)
• UK: Sky Sports (via the Now TV app)
• US: AT&T TV NOW, DAZN, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Sportsnet, TSN Direct, and YouTube TV

If you’re in the broadcast area, you can watch the 2026 NBA season with the official International League Pass — all games are available online, so you don’t need a cable offer to watch. If you’re in a country where it isn’t available, there are alternative purchase options that let you stream NBA games without cable, like YouTube TV.

Don’t Miss a Single Buzzer Beater and Watch the NBA Online

The NBA 2026 season has heart-stopping moments as the teams slam, juke, and shoot their way to victory and the NBA Finals. With every play potentially being a game-changing one, it’s important that you use a VPN that prioritizes speed and performance.

Due to its fast speeds and highly responsive servers, ExpressVPN is my #1 choice for watching the 2026 NBA season. I found a solution that’s ideal for seamless streaming, assuring a smooth experience without delays. Its global connections ensure you catch every game moment.

See for yourself – you can try ExpressVPN completely risk-free , and if you’re not satisfied, you have up to 30* days to claim a refund. The refund policy is super easy (I’ve tested it myself), so there’s zero risk when signing up!

*Please note that ExpressVPN’s generous money-back guarantee applies to first-time customers only.

Summary — These Are the Best VPNs to Watch the 2026 NBA Season

Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. That said, our detailed reviews follow a strict methodology that examines all relevant performance factors to help you arrive at your own informed conclusion.