The popularity of basketball in the UK has been growing at a steady clip. Indeed, that is likely to rise when the soon-to-be NBA Europe league launches with teams based in Britain. That’s likely to be next year at the earliest, so for now, British basketball fans will be glued to the action across the Atlantic, particularly as the NBA Playoffs get underway and take us right into June.
As you might expect, you can watch the games in the UK, though you might have to set your bedtime routine a bit later for most of them. Still, we have been well served by live NBA content over here for a few decades now, and it’s no different this time around with the 2026 NBA Playoffs and Finals.
Unfortunately, it’s a little bit more complicated than having a single broadcaster, so it is a bit of a headache for fans. But here are the options in the UK:
Sky Sports
Sky has had the lion’s share of NBA games throughout the regular season, and it is only at the start of a deal with the league that will last over a decade. It’s also going to show a fair number of games across the Playoffs. There is but one issue: It doesn’t actually have the rights to the NBA Finals. So, if you are interested in the climax of the season only, you might need to look further down this list.
Amazon Prime Video
As has been well-documented, Amazon Prime is moving into more and more sports coverage, including Champions League content. It has exclusive access to several games across the Playoffs, and that includes the 2026 NBA Finals. So, if you are an avid fan, perhaps backing NBA player props right the way through to the Finals, it’s Amazon Prime that you’ll have to use as a network broadcaster. There are alternative options, however.
NBA League Pass
This is the official streaming app of the NBA, which will work with your smart TV if you can’t bear watching it on your phone or laptop. In the UK, the NBA League Pass does not have any blackouts or restrictions, so you can watch every game. There are usually different deals on during the Playoffs, so you can actually get a pass for relatively cheap compared to the rest of the season. Note, too, that the Pass will offer different tiers of membership.
Social Media
A bit of a curveball here, as, yes, you aren’t going to watch live games in their entirety on socials. Yet, the NBA is one of the most forward-thinking sports leagues in getting its content out on socials. So, you can keep up to date with the scores, important plays and game highlights. X is usually the best option for the most promptly arriving content during a game. YouTube, arguably, is the best pick for post-game highlights.
Article by James Kelly.
