Basketball season may have just ended — congratulations to the Nuggets — but there’s no rest in professional sports which may leave you wondering how to watch NBA Summer League. The NBA Summer League starts at the beginning of July, which means Summer League games will be on your TVs before you know it. It may not have any bearing on what the regular season will look like when it kicks off later this year, but it’ll be fun anyway. Here’s what you need to know about where to stream Summer League games today.
Where to watch NBA Summer League
The NBA Summer League games will air on ESPN stations and NBA TV this summer. For sports fans without cable, you can find those channels on several streaming services, including DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV.
| Streaming Service | Cost | Channels | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV STREAM | $79.99+ | 75+ | Yes |
| Sling TV | $40+ | 31+ | No |
| Fubo | $79.99+ | 171+ | Yes |
| Hulu + Live TV | $76.99+ | 90+ | No |
| YouTube TV | $72.99 | 100+ | Yes |
How to watch NBA Summer League with DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM offers four streaming packages: ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER. Starting at $79.99 per month, DIRECTV STREAM’s packages give you a variety of content across the board, especially sports. For NBA Summer League specifically, you’ll want ESPN and ESPN 2, both of which can be found on all of DIRECTV STREAM’s packages. NBA TV will also be airing Summer League coverage. NBA TV can be found in the CHOICE, ULTIMATE, and PREMIER packages.
DIRECTV STREAM includes a free trial and is a well-rounded provider. In the base ENTERTAINMENT plan, you get 75+ channels for $79.99. The CHOICE package is 105+ channels for $108.99, the ULTIMATE package is 140+ channels for $119.99, and the PREMIER package is 150+ channels for $164.99. In addition to the ESPN networks and NBA TV, sports lovers will be happy to find the Tennis Channel, MLB Network, and FS1 as well. For more information, visit the DIRECTV STREAM website.
How to watch NBA Summer League with Sling TV
With Sling TV, you get three streaming options: Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and a combo Sling Orange + Blue. Sling Orange is the smallest (and cheapest) plan with 31 channels for $40 per month (though Sling TV often runs sign-up deals to get it even cheaper than that). Sling Orange includes the ESPN networks, but Sling Blue does not, so if you’re looking for NBA Summer League, you’ll want to either get Sling Orange or the combo Sling Orange + Blue, which is $60 per month. To get NBA TV, though, to round out your Summer League viewing, you’ll have to get the Sports Extra add-on for $11 per month. It also includes ESPNU and ESPNews.
Sling TV actually provides a really good deal for sports fans. You can opt for the Sling Orange package with the add-on and you’ll pretty much have all the channels you need, and you’re only paying $51 per month. Though you don’t have a large overall channel library, it provides the tailored channels you’re looking for.
How to watch NBA Summer League with Fubo
Fubo offers three streaming packages: Pro, Elite, and Premier. For $74.99, customers can get access to the Pro plan’s 160-plus channels (this number will vary based on your location). Designed for sports and entertainment lovers, Fubo offers a wide variety of channels designed specifically with them in mind.
Each package offers a ton of sports channels, in particular, so if you’re out for NBA Summer League, you’ll be happy with Fubo. To ensure you’re maximizing your viewing experience, you’ll want to get the Fubo Extra add-on for $7.99 per month for NBA TV. It includes more sports channels (like ESPNU and the Tennis Channel), as well as some fun other options like Teen Nicks.
How to watch NBA Summer League with Hulu + Live TV
Hulu’s live TV streaming service is perfect for the Hulu devotee who doesn’t want to add anything extra to their slate. If you’re already a Hulu customer, you can just upgrade your plan to the $76.99 monthly ad-supported plan or $89.99 for the no-ad plan. Both will include the on-demand library as well as the live channel selection. These also come with ESPN+ access for even more basketball content for sports fans. You can catch Summer League games on the ESPN networks on Hulu, but you won’t have access to the NBA TV games.
How to watch NBA Summer League with YouTube TV
YouTube TV is the simplest streamer for cord-cutters. It’s one plan for one price, and what you see is what you get. For $72.99 monthly, you get access to over 100 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, and NBA TV — everything you need to watch the Summer League. Plus, you’ll get a lot of other fun channels on top of that, like Motortrend and ESPNU. If that’s not enough sports channels, you can add the Sports Plus extra for $10.99 per month to get Fan Duel TV, Sports Grid, and more.
NBA Summer League schedule 2024
You can find the full schedule on ESPN.com
Final Take: Streaming is in for the NBA this summer
When it comes time to tune in for NBA Summer League 2024 in July, cutting the cord is clearly the answer. A solid handful of high-quality sports streaming services are providing customers an easy way to tune in to watch their favorite teams play — and none of those streamers require a contract or a cable service. Though all of the aforementioned streamers are good options for this summer, DIRECTV STREAM or YouTube TV are the most well-rounded services that have everything you need for a reasonable price.
FAQ
Is NBA Summer League different than the regular season?
The NBA Summer League is less formal than regular season play. You’ll see different lineups, more playtime from new draft picks, and players who are essentially auditioning for spots on the team for the regular season. These games also don’t affect the overall rankings and stats for the regular season.
Can I watch NBA Summer League without cable?
You can. You can watch NBA Summer League with DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV — none of which require a cable connection.
Can I watch NBA Summer League on NBA League Pass?
You can watch some NBA Summer League games with NBA League Pass, though you may experience some blackouts. Once you know which NBA Summer League games will be viewable on which channels, you can see what will be blacked out in your area on NBA League Pass.