NBA Streaming 2026: Peacock, Amazon & League Pass Guide

Introduction

The 2025-2026 NBA season marks the beginning of a massive new media rights deal. TNT is out (mostly), and streaming giants are in. The NBA has embraced the future, splitting its games between traditional TV and streaming-exclusive platforms.

This is great for modernity but terrible for confusion. Games are now spread across three main partners. Here is how to navigate the new landscape.

Quick Summary: Who Has What?

• Amazon Prime Video: 66 regular season games (Friday nights) + In-Season Tournament.
• Peacock (NBC): 100 regular season games (Sunday/Tuesday) + All-Star Game.
• ESPN/ABC: The NBA Finals + Wednesday/Saturday primetime.

The 'Sunday Night Basketball' Era

Just like the NFL, NBC has created a flagship night for the NBA. Peacock is the exclusive home for many of these games. If you want to watch the Celtics vs. Lakers on a Sunday, you likely need a Peacock subscription, not a cable box.

What Happens to League Pass?

NBA League Pass remains the go-to for out-of-market fans. However, the blackout rules still apply. If a game is on Peacock, Prime, or ESPN in your area, it will be blacked out on League Pass. Note: The new deal has slightly relaxed local blackouts for teams without an RSN partner, moving them to direct-to-consumer options (like the 'ClipperVision' model).

The Amazon Factor

Amazon Prime Video has effectively replaced the role TNT used to play on Thursdays. They also own the rights to the entire 'Emirates NBA Cup' (In-Season Tournament). High-bitrate 1080p HDR streaming makes Amazon the best-looking broadcast of the bunch.

Cost to Watch It All

Conclusion

The era of "Inside the NBA" on TNT is over, but the accessibility of games has increased. For $17/mo (Peacock + Prime), you get more national NBA games than ever before.

Check the national TV schedule to see where your team is playing this week.