Look, trying to watch the NBA without a cable box is basically like trying to navigate a maze where the walls keep moving. One night the game is on ESPN, the next it’s tucked away on a streaming service you forgot you subscribed to, and don't even get me started on the local blackouts. If you’re asking how much is the nba league pass, you probably just want one place to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drop 40 without needing a PhD in broadcast rights.
The short answer is that right now, in the middle of the 2025-26 season, the price just took a massive nose dive.
Honestly, if you'd asked this back in October, I would’ve told you to set aside over a hundred bucks. But it’s mid-January. We are past the halfway mark. The NBA just slashed prices by about 55% for the rest of the year.
The Current Price Breakdown (U.S. Market)
If you are sitting in the United States today, January 17, 2026, here is what the damage looks like for your wallet.
The "Standard" League Pass is currently sitting at $49.99 for the rest of the season. That’s down from the original $109.99 sticker price. If you prefer to pay as you go, you’re looking at **$16.99 per month**.
Then there’s the "Premium" version. It’s for the folks who can't stand commercials or want to watch on three different screens at once. That one is now $74.99 for the season (originally $159.99) or **$24.99 on a monthly basis**.
The math is pretty simple here. We have about 12 weeks of the regular season left before the playoffs start in April. At $50, you’re basically paying about $4 a week to see every out-of-market game. That’s cheaper than a decent latte.
What You Actually Get for the Money
Don't let the marketing fool you into thinking "every game" means literally every single game live. It doesn't.
League Pass is designed for out-of-market fans. If you live in New York and want to watch the Knicks, League Pass is going to show you a big "Blackout" screen because the local Regional Sports Network (RSN) wants your money instead.
- Standard Plan: You get every out-of-market game. You can watch on one device at a time. You will see commercials.
- Premium Plan: No commercials. Instead, you get the "in-arena" feed. It’s actually kinda cool—you see the halftime shows, the mascot throwing t-shirts, and the weird stuff that happens during timeouts. You can also stream on three devices simultaneously.
- Team Pass: If you literally only care about one team—say, you're a Lakers fan living in Montana—you can get a "Single Team" pass for roughly $13.99 a month. Honestly, for the $3 difference, most people just get the full pass.
The New Media Landscape (The NBC and Amazon Factor)
The 2025-26 season changed everything because the old TNT deal is officially dead. This year, the league's broadcast rights are split between ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video.
This makes League Pass a bit trickier. If a game is being shown nationally on NBC or Amazon, it’s blacked out on League Pass while it’s live. You can usually watch the replay a few hours later, but for live junkies, it’s an annoyance. NBC and Peacock are doing about 100 games this year, and Amazon has roughly 66.
If you're wondering how much is the nba league pass because you want to save money, keep in mind that you might still need a Peacock or Prime subscription to see the "big" games on Monday or Thursday nights.
International Pricing: The VPN Loophole
It is no secret that the NBA charges different prices based on where you live. In the U.S., we pay the "prestige" tax.
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If you happen to be in Ethiopia, the League Pass is reportedly as low as $2.15 per month. In Turkey, it's roughly $3.38. Because of this, a lot of tech-savvy fans use a VPN to "travel" to these countries and sign up for a fraction of the cost.
However, the NBA has gotten a lot better at spotting this. They often require a credit card issued in the country you're claiming to be in. Some people get around this by using Google Play or Apple gift cards, but it’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. If you're going to try it, just know that the NBA can—and sometimes does—block accounts that look suspicious.
Student and Military Discounts
If you are a student, stop paying full price. Seriously.
The NBA offers a student discount through a verification service called SheerID. Usually, this knocks about 40% off the monthly price. You just need a valid .edu email or some proof of enrollment. They also occasionally run similar deals for military members and first responders, though those are less "always-on" than the student ones.
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Is It Worth It Right Now?
We are heading into the home stretch. The trade deadline is approaching, the playoff seeding is getting tight, and the "tanking" for draft picks hasn't fully started yet.
If your favorite team is in another state, the $49.99 mid-season price is a steal. If you’re a local fan who doesn't use a VPN, you’re better off looking at your local RSN's direct-to-consumer app (like FanDuel Sports Network or Monumental). Those usually cost around $19.99 a month but actually let you watch your home team.
Basically, League Pass is the best tool for the "NBA Junkie"—the person who wants to flip between the Wemby highlights in San Antonio and a tight fourth quarter in Miami at 10:30 PM on a Tuesday.
How to Sign Up for the Best Rate
- Check for the Trial: Most years, the NBA offers a 7-day free trial. Start there. Just remember to cancel if you hate the interface.
- Go Direct vs. Amazon: You can subscribe through the NBA website or as a "Channel" on Amazon Prime. The price is usually the same, but Amazon’s video player is often more stable than the NBA’s own app.
- The Mid-Season Drop: Since today is mid-January, ensure the price reflected in your cart is the $49.99 (Standard) or $74.99 (Premium) seasonal rate. If it's higher, you might be looking at an old cached page.
Check your local blackout restrictions by entering your zip code on the NBA's official site before you put in your credit card info. If you live in an area with two home teams, like LA or NYC, you’ll lose out on a huge chunk of live games without a separate cable or RSN subscription.
The most efficient move right now is grabbing the Standard Seasonal pass for $49.99 if you're a single-user fan, or splitting the $74.99 Premium cost with two friends since it allows three simultaneous streams.