The 2019/20 NBA season is fully underway, with a host of teams looking to make it to the finals come June. The Toronto Raptors pulled off a shock title win last time out thanks to masterful displays from Kawhi Leonard – but it’s anyone’s guess how this season will turn out.
With some of the biggest sides going head-to-head in the opening few weeks of fixtures, it’s time to find out where to watch every tip-off, rebound and three-pointer. Whether watching the coverage live and uninterrupted on your couch or from your mobile device, you don’t have to miss a moment of the action using the options listed here.
How to Watch the NBA on UK TV
NBA has soared in popularity over the past 10 years in the UK and is now easily the most popular US sport watched within the British Isles. This is thanks in part to a handful of regular-season games coming to London, and the huge interest in the record-breaking 2014/15 Warriors side that catapulted Steph Curry into the UK public’s eye.
One of the other major highlights has been Sky Sports’ coverage, with the network securing exclusive rights to show over 130 games a season live and direct on their network of TV channels. This deal runs from 2018-2020 and includes both playoff and finals games live. Due to time differences, it can be difficult to catch every game as it happens, and this is why Sky’s on demand and replay service is perfectly suited to British and Irish viewers.
But with 1,230 games taking place across the season, die-hard NBA fans require much more, which is why the NBA League Pass appeals to true fanatics of the game. This live streaming subscription service shows every single NBA game live across the season, with a 7-day catch-up archive and All-Star Weekend coverage – meaning you literally won’t miss a minute.
So, if you want to follow Lebron’s progress with the Lakers, James Harden’s push for glory with Houston or the winning machine that is the Golden State Warriors – UK NBA fans have several options to choose from.
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The NBA on Sky Sports and NOW TV
Sky Sports has signed an exclusive deal with the NBA, bringing you comprehensive coverage of the 2019/20 NBA live on UK TV. From 2018 to 2022, the network is showing over 130 games each season – including regular season, playoff and finals matches. Sky Sports’ experienced team presenters -Jaydee Dyer, Ovie Soko and Mo Moocey – bring you the insider’s scoop and top-shelf analysis of each week’s most in-form teams, with every moment – from tip-off to the final buzzer – available in Ultra HD.
NOW TV, a part of the Sky TV stable, has the exact same programming as Sky Sports – offering daily, weekly and monthly passes. These are good options if you’re just looking to catch one of the big games or a key stretch of the season, such as a playoff round, or the finals, all without committing to a long-term contract. You can tune into games live online at home, or on your mobile device when on the move.
NBA on Free to Air TV
There currently is no NBA free to air broadcaster in the UK, with Sky Sports having exclusive rights until 2022 to televise the world’s biggest basketball league live. If you want to catch the action you will need one of the aforementioned subscriptions (Sky Sport, NBA League Pass, NOW TV), because at best your local free to air provider will only offer highlights and breaking news.
NBA TV Preview
The trades have been done, the line-ups are confirmed and now the real stuff is about to begin as the NBA season gets underway. It looks set to be one of the most difficult to call when you consider the triumph of the Toronto Raptors last year, who won their first-ever NBA title. Khawi Leonard was a key to that triumph, but even he will be wearing different colours this season when he walks out for the Clippers.
The next few weeks of the new campaign will throw up some mouth-watering games that should give us a better idea of who is going to make a strong push in 2020. The Mavericks will take on the Lakers, the Rockets will face-off against the Raptors, and the Spurs will go head-to-head with the Suns.
It will also be fascinating to see Lebron James progress in his second season at the LA Lakers. His first was a bit of a let down as his side failed to even make the playoffs. However, as any real fan knows, we can expect big things this time around and the most recognised player in the NBA will be on the hunt for a fourth championship ring.
The sheer depth of talent available in the NBA is highlighted every year during the All-Star Weekend, where East plays West in a one-off game. This year the All-Star match is set to take place on February 16, will a whole host of side competitions including best slam dunk and most three-pointers. It’s a real celebration of US Basketball and a highlight of the NBA calendar.
Watch or Stream the NBA Live
In 2019, Sky Sports is televising over 130 live NBA games, in Ultra HD, with replays available on catch-up. This includes regular-season games throughout the week from Monday to Sunday, as well as the option of streaming the NBA to a variety of eligible mobile devices using the free Sky Go app should it be more convenient. If you’re interested in full access to this action take a moment to review the Sky Sports plus Entertainment package, which requires an 18-month commitment and the necessary equipment.
If you’re looking for an alternative that doesn’t involve a long-term commitment, you may wish to check out NOW TV, which offers shorter, more flexible deals. With NOW TV you can watch every televised session of the NBA live online using a compatible device or available app, while receiving the exact same broadcast experience and coverage as Sky Sports. NOW TV offers the choice of adding a Sky Sports day pass, weekly pass or monthly pass, and there’s no setup or equipment fees, so you can start watching within minutes of plugging it in.
NBA 2019 Live TV Schedule
| Date | Event | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 16th January | LIVE: Blazers v Rockets | 02.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Friday 17th January | LIVE: Celtics v Bucks | 01.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 18th January | LIVE: Blazers v Mavericks | 02.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 18th January | LIVE: Clippers v Pelicans | 20.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Sunday 19th January | LIVE: Heat v Spurs | 20.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Monday 20th January | LIVE: 76ers v Nets | 20.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Tuesday 21st January | LIVE: Lakers v Celtics | 00.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Tuesday 21st January | LIVE: Warriors v Blazers | 3.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Thursday 23rd January | LIVE: Lakers v Knicks | 00.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Friday 24th January | LIVE: Lakers v Nets | 01.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Friday 24th January | LIVE: Bucks v Hornets | 20.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 25th January | LIVE: Mavericks v Jazz | 22.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Sunday 26th January | LIVE: Rockets v Nuggets | 20.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Thursday 30th January | LIVE: Rockets v Trail Blazers | 03.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Friday 31st January | LIVE: Jazz v Nuggets | 03.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 1st February | LIVE: Nuggets v Bucks | 02.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 1st February | LIVE: Timberwolves v Clippers | 20.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Sunday 2nd February | LIVE: Pelicans v Rockets | 19.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Thursday 6th February | LIVE: Warriors v Nets | 00.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Friday 7th February | LIVE: 76ers v Bucks | 01.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 8th February | LIVE: Raptors v Pacers | 01.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Saturday 8th February | LIVE: Bucks v Magic | 22.00 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
| Sunday 9th February | LIVE: Celtics v Thunder | 20.30 | Sky Sports / Now TV |
