Why You Need a VPN to Watch NBA Games
The National Basketball Association, NBA, features 82 games per year during the regular season and additional games in the playoffs. If you’re in a different city than your favorite team or live in a country where you can’t watch games, you’ll need the best VPN for streaming NBA games to fuel your viewing needs.
You may be questioning when you need a VPN or if you actually need one. A VPN offers universal benefits to people in the US and outside the US. What happens is that licensing rights get in the way of truly free viewing, so many of the games you want to watch will be blacked out.
A general rule of thumb is that when a local cable company is broadcasting a game, it will be blacked out for locals, even if you’re paying for NBA League Pass.
You can debate the blackouts all you want – they’re absurd – but there’s nothing you can do about it without a VPN.
When you have a VPN, you’ll be able to:
- Route all of your Internet traffic and streaming through the VPN
- Set the server of the VPN in an area not blacked out
- Log into your NBA League Pass
It’s that simple to circumvent the blackout restrictions because they’re enforced by analyzing your IP address to determine your location.
The setup process is also fast and easy, so you can get started watching your favorite player dunk or shoot a three-pointer.
Setting Up a VPN to Watch Basketball
If you want to get a sports VPN up and running, it’s very easy. We’ll be covering a few service providers below, and while their setup is often slightly different, the process is relatively the same among providers.
A few quick and easy steps to follow are:
- Choose the VPN you want to use and sign up
- Download the respective app or software for your system
- Open the app or software
- Select the country and server location
- Connect and run your NBA League Pass
- Watch your game
This is the straightforward method of connecting to a VPN and watching games. While this is the only process you must follow, it’s recommended that you favorite or set the server to connect to next time.
Und warum?
Circumventing restrictions is not something that the NBA wants you to do. If you sign in from Italy today and then the US and Canada tomorrow, it may be a red flag that gets your account investigated. Ideally, if you can control it, you will connect in the same city the next time you log into League Pass.
Of course, you can use other servers, but it’s unnatural if the IP changes countries with every log in.
Benefits of Using a VPN
Using a VPN, primarily a paid one, will allow you to keep your data secure and offers a lot of additional benefits. A few of the key benefits that you can’t ignore when using a VPN – aside from streaming NBA games – are:
- 256-bit encryption
- Zero logging
- Worldwide servers
- Usage on multiple devices
You can even use the best VPN for streaming NBA games to watch NFL, MLS, NHL and other major sports.
5 Best VPNs for Streaming NBA Games
If you’re looking for a VPN to do all of your streaming, there are a lot of options available. We’re going to list five, along with links to our full reviews, that we think are worth a try.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is available with 3,000 servers in 94 countries. Native apps are available for mobile and desktop operating systems. Setup is fast and easy, and support is available 24/7. Speed performance is one of the most impressive we’ve seen with less than 4 Mbps lost, or around 5% total speed when connected to the VPN.
Routers can also be setup to use ExpressVPN.
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost has over 30+ million users, so it’s safe to say it’s among the industry’s leading service providers. The service offers a strict no logs policy and boasts 6,000 servers in over 90 countries.
Up to seven devices can be connected at one time, and there are apps and/or software for all of the leading platforms. You’ll find apps for Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, PlayStation, Xbox. Linux, MacOS and Windows.
3. NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the industry’s most popular VPN services because of its high level of security and over 5,000 servers in 60 countries. Multiple layers of security are available, including DoubleVPN and Onion for even more security than a normal VPN.
Users can connect up to six devices at a time, and apps are available for all of the leading devices: Android, Linux, iOS, Mac OS and Windows.
4. Surfshark
Surfshark is a great option and a relatively new CPN company that offers incredible value, performance and high-end security. Device compatibility includes Android, iOS, Mac, Linux and Windows.
The VPN maintains 800+ servers and 50 countries. When using the VPN, download speeds dropped by around 15%, which is really good.
When you use Surfshark, you can connect to an unlimited amount of devices and also benefit from MultiHop for an added layer of security.
5. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has a staggering 2,600+ servers in 47 countries. The company has a 30-day guarantee and apps for Windows, OSX, Linux, iOS and Android. Ten devices can be connected at a single time, and there are no traffic logs.
Setup is easy with the corresponding app, and it’s simple to switch servers.
Tech support issues of the past are starting to get better, with the company introducing live chat in June 2021.
We encourage you to compare VPNs and try them out to see which one works best for you. Each has their own benefits and drawbacks, but you’ll find the best VPN for streaming NBA games on our list.
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