If you’re in the market for a VPN, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the best possible service. With so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start. That’s where we come in.
At [publication name], we’ve done the research to bring you the top VPN providers on the market. Our editorial team is committed to remaining independent, so you can trust that our recommendations are unbiased and based solely on our own experiences and testing. Plus, if you do decide to purchase a VPN through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our work.
Our Verdict
If you’re a fan of the NBA and want to watch blackout games on NBA League Pass, a VPN is your best bet. With a VPN, you can bypass geo-restrictions and access your local team’s games and games televised on cable channels.
After testing 65 VPNs, we found that only four of them can bypass NBA League Pass’ strong VPN blocks. Our top choice is ExpressVPN, which offers fast speeds and a global server network.
To watch blackout games on NBA League Pass with ExpressVPN, simply subscribe to the service, download the app, and connect to a VPN server location outside of the blackout region. We recommend Germany as it is subject to fewer blackout restrictions than any other location.
Once connected, open NBA League Pass and stream your chosen NBA game in HD. With NBA League Pass broadcasting every 2023-24 NBA season game, you won’t miss a single game.
In summary, if you want to watch blackout games on NBA League Pass, a VPN is the way to go. ExpressVPN is our top choice due to its fast speeds and ability to bypass NBA League Pass’ strong VPN blocks.
What Is the Best VPN for NBA League Pass?
If you’re looking for the best VPN to use with NBA League Pass, ExpressVPN is the clear winner. With a rating of 9.4 out of 10, this VPN offers servers in 106 countries, including 11 US states on both the East and West coasts. This means that you can easily bypass NBA geo-blocks and stream local and nationally blacked out NBA games at high speed.
In addition, ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use apps work consistently on every device, including in a web browser, on Android, and Roku. This makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to watch NBA games on the go.
While there are other VPNs that can work with NBA League Pass, such as Surfshark and Windscribe Free, ExpressVPN is the most reliable and consistent option. Plus, with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try it out risk-free and see for yourself why it’s the best VPN for NBA League Pass.
How to Bypass NBA Blackouts Using a VPN
How to Watch Blackout NBA Games on Desktop or Laptop (Windows and Mac)
To watch blackout NBA games on your desktop or laptop, you can use a VPN to change your IP address to a location outside of the blackout region.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Sign up for a VPN service that works with NBA League Pass. ExpressVPN is a reliable option.
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server outside of the blackout region. For locally blacked-out games, connect to a server in a nearby US state. For nationally blacked-out games, connect to a server in the Netherlands or Germany.
- Open NBA League Pass in your web browser. You can use your existing US-based NBA account.
- Select the game you want to watch and start streaming.
If the video doesn’t load or you encounter an error message, try our workarounds below.
How to Bypass NBA League Pass Blackouts on Mobile (Android)
To bypass NBA blackouts on mobile (Android), you need to use a VPN with GPS spoofing functionality. Here are the steps to follow:
- Sign up for a VPN with GPS spoofing functionality. Surfshark and Windscribe are the only NBA League Pass VPNs that have this feature.
- Install the VPN app by downloading it from the Google Play Store.
- Log in to your account and turn on Override GPS Location: Settings > VPN Settings > Advanced Settings > Override GPS Location > Let’s Go.
- Reveal Developer Options on your device: Navigate your device’s Settings > About Phone > Software Information > tap Build Number seven times.
- Grant the VPN app GPS privileges: Reopen the Settings app > Developer Options > Select Mock Location App > VPN name (e.g. Surfshark)
- Open the VPN app and connect to a server where the game is not blacked out. Your GPS coordinates will automatically match the location of the VPN server.
- Clear cache on the NBA app: Open Settings > Apps > NBA > Storage > Clear cache.
- Open the NBA app and select the game you want to watch. You’ll now have access to blacked-out games on the service.
To stream geo-blocked NBA games on iPad, don’t use the NBA app as it checks your GPS location. Instead, access NBA League Pass through a web browser. This will not work on an iPhone, though.
How to Get Around NBA Blackouts on Amazon Fire TV
To access geo-blocked NBA games on Firestick and Android TV devices, you can use a VPN service that has an app for these streaming devices. Here are the steps to follow:
- Subscribe to a VPN service that works with NBA League Pass. ExpressVPN is a good option.
- Download the VPN app from the Amazon Appstore or Google Play Store. You can use your US or Canada Amazon or Google account, so you won’t need to create a new one.
- Open the app and connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout region.
- Clear cache on the NBA app: On Fire TV, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Clear Cache. On Android TV, go to Settings > Apps > See all apps > NBA > Clear cache > Ok.
- Open the NBA app and live stream the game you want to watch.
How to Watch All NBA Games on Roku and Chromecast
To bypass geo-blocks on Chromecast and Roku, you need to set up a virtual router from your Windows PC. Here are the steps to follow:
- Sign up for an NBA League Pass VPN. ExpressVPN is a good option.
- Download the VPN app onto your Windows computer.
- If using a Chromecast, download the NBA app onto your mobile. You won’t need to do this on Roku.
- Enable your PC’s virtual router: On your PC, open Command Prompt and type the following commands:
- netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NETWORKNAME key=PASSWORD
- netsh wlan start hostednetwork
- Find the name of your network: Press the Windows key + R. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter. The name of your virtual router will be in bold.
- Turn on the mobile hotspot: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot > on.
- Allow other devices to connect to your VPN: Return to the Network & Internet pane in settings and click Change adapter options. Right-click your VPN’s TAP Adapter and select Properties. Click Sharing and enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
- Broadcast your WiFi connection: Open the dropdown menu under Home networking connection and choose the name of your newly created network.
- Using the Windows VPN app, connect to a server outside of the blackout region. Your virtual router will automatically
NBA Blackout Checker Based on IP Location
If you’re a basketball fan, you know how frustrating it can be to be blocked from watching your favorite team’s game due to your location. Luckily, the NBA League Pass offers a solution to this problem in the form of a VPN service. By connecting to a VPN server in one of the recommended locations, you can gain access to the game you want to watch.
To help you figure out which teams you’re blocked from viewing based on your IP address location, we’ve created a table below. It lists popular basketball teams and the recommended VPN server locations to connect to in order to gain access to their games.
| IP Address Location | Blacked Out Team | Recommended VPN Server Location |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | Boston Celtics | New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto |
| Brooklyn | Brooklyn Nets | New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto |
| Chicago | Chicago Bulls | Milwaukee, Detroit, Toronto |
| Dallas | Dallas Mavericks | Houston, Austin, Los Angeles |
| San Francisco | Golden State Warriors | Seattle, Las Vegas |
| Houston | Houston Rockets | New Orleans, Memphis |
| Los Angeles | LA Lakers | Las Vegas, Phoenix |
| Miami | Miami Heat | Atlanta, New Orleans |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia 76ers | New York City, Washington DC |
| Toronto | Toronto Raptors | Detroit, Buffalo |
It’s important to note that if you don’t connect to a VPN server from one of the recommended NBA VPN services, your IP address is likely to be blocked by the NBA League Pass.
If you’re still having trouble accessing a game even after connecting to a VPN server outside of the blackout region for your team, make sure your IP address isn’t within the blackout region for the opposing team. This will ensure that you can live stream the game without any issues.
By using our table and following our expert advice, you can ensure that you never miss a game due to your location again.
Analysis of the Best VPNs for NBA League Pass
If you want to watch NBA games live, you need NBA League Pass. However, it’s geo-restricted, meaning you can’t watch it outside of the US, or if you’re in the US, you can’t watch games that are nationally or locally blacked out. That’s where a VPN comes in. After testing 65 VPN services with NBA League Pass, we found three VPNs that worked best: ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe.
1. ExpressVPN: Best Overall VPN for NBA League Pass
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for NBA League Pass. It’s a premium VPN service that streams local and nationally blacked out NBA games with the fastest speeds. ExpressVPN has servers in 11 US states for bypassing local blackouts and servers in 106 countries for streaming NBA League Pass International. It has fast connection speeds for no buffering and an easy-to-use Firestick app. ExpressVPN also has a router app for extra device compatibility and 24/7 customer support. The overall NBA League Pass rating for ExpressVPN is 9.4/10.
Streams In-Market and Out-of-Market NBA Games
ExpressVPN was one of only two VPNs that could stream the NBA on US and international servers. The benefit of a compatible US server is that you’ll be able to get the fastest speeds while using the VPN. The advantage of a compatible international server is that you’ll then get access to every blacked-out NBA game, including those on national television.
Faster Speeds than Any Other NBA League Pass VPN
In our speed tests, ExpressVPN performed better than every other NBA VPN. This meant that live video streams always loaded in the highest resolution without any buffering. While connected to server locations that bypass NBA blackouts, like Germany, we recorded speeds of 94Mbps. These impressive speeds also make ExpressVPN the best VPN for streaming the US Open Tennis.
Smart DNS Is Ineffective, but Router App Is Superb
Sadly, MediaStreamer doesn’t work with NBA League Pass. The Smart DNS service failed to redirect our traffic and we were blocked from streaming any blacked-out games. To use ExpressVPN on devices that don’t support VPN apps, like Roku, you can install ExpressVPN onto a compatible router. Thankfully, ExpressVPN’s router app is the best we’ve tested and is as easy to use as its other apps.
2. Surfshark: Best NBA League Pass VPN for Android
Surfshark is an affordable VPN service with GPS spoofing functionality on Android. It has a GPS spoofing feature that bypasses local blackouts on Android. Surfshark has fast connection speeds using the WireGuard protocol and intuitive apps for many devices. It also has unlimited simultaneous connections and a 7-day free trial on mobile. The overall NBA League Pass rating for Surfshark is 6.3/10.
Fake GPS Feature Works on Android
The NBA Android app determines your location using GPS as well as your IP address. As connecting to a VPN server typically only changes the latter, almost every VPN service we tested failed to stream NBA games on Android. Surfshark’s Android app stands out by including a fake GPS that syncs your location with the VPN server. Even the more expensive VPN services we tested, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, don’t have this feature.
Doesn’t Stream Nationally Blacked Out Games
Our research found that none of Surfshark’s international servers could access nationally blacked-out games. It’s compatible with fewer devices than other options and doesn’t access nationally televised games.
3. Windscribe: Best Free VPN for NBA League Pass
Windscribe is a 100% free VPN service, but it comes with many limitations, like fewer server locations and a monthly data cap. Windscribe is compatible with every streaming device, but the 10GB data cap isn’t enough for most users. The overall NBA League Pass rating for Windscribe is 4.8/10.
Limited Server Options
Windscribe has servers in 11 countries, which is significantly fewer than the other VPNs on this list. It has servers in the US, but not in every state. This means that Windscribe may not be able to bypass local blackouts for every NBA game.
Compatible with Every Streaming Device
Windscribe is compatible with every streaming device, including Firestick, Roku, and Chromecast. This makes it a great option if you want to stream NBA League Pass on multiple devices.
10GB Data Cap Isn’t Enough for Most Users
Windscribe has a monthly data cap of 10GB, which isn’t enough for most users. If you want to stream NBA games in HD, you’ll quickly use up your data cap. Windscribe does offer a paid version that removes the data cap, but it’s more expensive than
Popular VPNs We Don’t Recommend for NBA League Pass
If you’re a basketball fan living outside the United States, NBA League Pass is a great way to stream live NBA games. However, NBA League Pass imposes stricter VPN blocks than most other streaming services, which means that not all VPNs can bypass these restrictions. After testing several popular VPNs, we found that ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe Free are the only VPNs that can successfully stream NBA League Pass games. Here are five popular VPNs that failed our tests and the reasons why we don’t recommend them for NBA League Pass.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost is a popular VPN that claims to work perfectly with NBA League Pass on all of its servers. However, we found that CyberGhost couldn’t stream any NBA games on League Pass. Despite having 91 server locations, we were unable to watch a single live NBA game while connected to any of its servers. Therefore, we don’t recommend CyberGhost for NBA League Pass.
NordVPN
NordVPN is another popular VPN that many review websites claim is the best VPN for NBA League Pass. However, our tests found that NordVPN can’t stream nationally blacked-out NBA games, unlike ExpressVPN and Windscribe. Although it did work to bypass local blackout restrictions, it’s an inferior choice to Surfshark as it doesn’t include a fake GPS feature for Android devices. Additionally, NordVPN doesn’t work with NBA League Pass on international servers, which means that it can’t bypass national blackout restrictions. Therefore, we don’t recommend NordVPN for NBA League Pass.
Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a VPN that claims to work great with NBA League Pass on any server location of your choice. However, we were unable to stream NBA League Pass while connected to any of its 18,651 servers. Therefore, we don’t recommend PIA for NBA League Pass.
PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN is one of only two VPNs that can successfully stream live NBA games on US and international servers, along with ExpressVPN. However, we don’t recommend it for NBA League Pass due to its slow speeds and poor device compatibility. Using it, our content sometimes buffered and would only stream in SD. Additionally, we couldn’t use it to bypass NBA blackouts on Android, Apple TV, or Roku because the VPN lacks fake GPS, Smart DNS, and a router app.
VeePN
VeePN claims to be the best VPN for NBA League Pass and claims that all 60 of its server locations bypass blackouts. However, our tests found that VeePN is unable to work around any blackout restrictions. All of its IP addresses were blocked, and we were shown an error message. Therefore, we don’t recommend VeePN for NBA League Pass.
In conclusion, if you want to stream NBA League Pass games from outside the United States, we recommend using ExpressVPN, Surfshark, or Windscribe Free. These VPNs can successfully bypass NBA League Pass’s strict VPN blocks and allow you to stream live NBA games.
How We Tested and Chose the Best VPNs for NBA League Pass
Our team put 65 VPN services through rigorous testing to determine the best free and premium options for NBA League Pass. We used a custom testing methodology to evaluate each VPN’s ability to bypass blackouts and stream games in HD quality across various devices.
Our testing was divided into four rating metrics, each with a specific weighting:
1. Bypassing Local Blackouts (30% of Overall Rating)
To provide the fastest internet speeds possible, a top NBA VPN should be able to bypass local blackouts imposed by NBA League Pass and NBA TV via a nearby server in the US. We tested and recorded each VPN’s ability to stream NBA games while connected to servers on the East and West Coasts of the US.
We tested 65 VPNs to see which could bypass local blackouts. A VPN scored 0.0/10 if it didn’t work in any location, 5/10 if it worked in one location, and 10/10 if it worked in more than two locations.
ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN, and Surfshark were the only VPNs capable of streaming blackout games on more than one US server. Other top VPNs, like PIA and CyberGhost, were blocked in every location. NordVPN was limited to just one compatible server.
2. Bypassing National Blackouts (30% of Overall Rating)
To unblock every blacked-out NBA game, including those on ESPN and TNT, a VPN has to work with the international version of NBA League Pass. We tried accessing games subject to national blackout restrictions while connected to VPN servers outside of the US and Canada to see how the VPNs performed.
We tested 65 VPNs to see which could bypass national blackouts. A VPN scored 0/10 if it didn’t work in any location, 5/10 if it worked in one country outside of the US and Canada, and 10/10 if it worked in at least two countries outside of North America.
ExpressVPN and PrivateVPN were the only VPNs that could access NBA League Pass International in multiple server locations. Windscribe Free managed to do so in a single location, while all other VPNs were unsuccessful.
3. Speed (20% of Overall Rating)
To stream NBA games in HD without any buffering, a VPN has to have fast download speeds across its server network. We performed hundreds of speed tests while connected to each VPN’s servers in the US, as well as in international locations like Germany and the Netherlands.
Every VPN goes through our standardized speed testing process, and we enter these raw speed figures into our calculator, which then outputs a rating out of 10.
Of the VPNs that work with NBA League Pass, only ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark were fast enough to consistently stream live games in HD quality.
4. NBA Streaming Device Compatibility (20% of Overall Rating)
To access geo-blocked NBA games on all of your devices, a VPN has to provide extra features for devices that don’t support VPN apps. We evaluated the VPNs in this category by downloading the software on every possible platform and testing its Smart DNS functionality.
Windscribe’s Smart DNS service is the only one that streams NBA League Pass. A score of 1.25 is credited for each of the following: Android TV app, desktop app, fake GPS, Fire TV app, mobile app, native router app, router configuration files, and Smart DNS.
ExpressVPN was the only NBA VPN to include an app for routers, while only Surfshark and Windscribe had a fake GPS feature for Android.
See the full results of our testing for each criteria in the tables below:
Table 1: Bypassing Local Blackouts
| VPN | East Coast | West Coast | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
| PrivateVPN | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
| Surfshark | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
| NordVPN | Yes | No | 5/10 |
| IPVanish | Yes | No | 5/10 |
| VyprVPN | Yes | No | 5/10 |
| CyberGhost | No | No | 0/10 |
| PIA | No | No | 0/10 |
Table 2: Bypassing National Blackouts
| VPN | Location 1 | Location 2 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
| PrivateVPN | Yes | Yes | 10/10 |
| Windscribe | Yes |
Why Are NBA Games Blacked Out?
Why Are NBA TV Games Blocked in Your Area?
When you subscribe to NBA League Pass, you may notice that some games on NBA TV are blocked in your area. This is because of the two types of blackout restrictions enforced by NBA League Pass.
The first type of blackout restriction applies to games that are broadcast on national TV channels such as ESPN. These games are not available to stream anywhere in the US. The second type of blackout restriction applies to games that are broadcast on NBA TV or local TV channels like regional sports networks (RSNs). These games are not available in the local blackout region but are accessible elsewhere.
These restrictions are enforced to protect the NBA’s revenue from TV contracts with broadcasters like ESPN and RSNs. These deals are the biggest source of revenue for the NBA. For example, ESPN and TNT pay $2.6 billion per season for the exclusive rights to broadcast some games. Additionally, teams can earn between $9.4 million to $149 million from local TV deals.
If you’re being blocked from NBA TV, it’s because the game is being simulcast by an RSN in your region. For example, if a game is being simultaneously broadcast by NBA TV and the YES Network, you won’t be able to access either stream if you’re in Brooklyn.
How Can You Bypass NBA TV Blackouts?
The only way to stream blacked-out NBA games is to connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout zone. By connecting to a VPN server located in a different market, like Los Angeles or Washington DC, you can bypass the blackout and access the game.
In March 2023, the owner of the Bally Sports Network RSN filed for bankruptcy. As a result, it’s been suggested that the NBA might consider lifting its NBA League Pass local blackouts given that more than half of NBA teams have contracts with RSNs whose futures are uncertain. However, for now, the only way to watch blacked-out NBA games is by using a VPN.
How to Bypass NBA League Pass Error Codes
If you’re experiencing error codes while trying to access NBA League Pass, it’s likely due to geo-restrictions. The easiest solution to this problem is to use a reliable NBA VPN and connect to a server that can access geo-blocked NBA games. Below are solutions to the two most common error codes:
Error Code 7027: Out of country blocked because client is neither in home country nor in content
If you see the 7027 error message, NBA League Pass has detected that you’re using a VPN. To resolve this, you’ll need to use a VPN that has been verified to work with NBA League Pass and connect to a server that can access geo-blocked NBA games. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Choose a reliable NBA VPN and connect to a compatible server.
- Open NBA League Pass in a private browsing window to prevent the browser from storing cookies and cache.
You can find a list of verified VPN servers that work with NBA League Pass elsewhere in this guide.
Error Code: 3312: Content restricted for geolocation
If you see the 3312 error message, it means that your IP address is within a blackout region. To bypass this error, you’ll need to connect to a VPN server where the game is accessible. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Choose a reliable NBA VPN and connect to a server where the game is accessible.
- Open NBA League Pass and enjoy the game.
You can view the regions where the most popular teams are blacked out in our summary table.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you watch NBA games if you are in a blackout region?
If you are in a blackout region and want to watch NBA games, you can use a VPN to bypass the blackout restrictions. A VPN changes your IP address and makes it appear as if you are located in a different region where the game is not blacked out. However, it is important to note that using a VPN to bypass blackout restrictions may violate the terms of service of NBA League Pass.
What are the steps to use a VPN with NBA League Pass on iOS?
To use a VPN with NBA League Pass on iOS, follow these steps:
- Download and install a VPN app on your iOS device.
- Connect to a VPN server located in a region where the game is not blacked out.
- Launch the NBA League Pass app and start watching the game.
Why isn’t your VPN working with NBA League Pass?
If your VPN is not working with NBA League Pass, it could be due to a number of reasons. Some possible reasons include:
- The VPN server you are connected to is blacklisted by NBA League Pass.
- The VPN connection is slow or unstable, causing buffering or other issues.
- The VPN app is not configured correctly.
To troubleshoot the issue, try connecting to a different VPN server, restarting the VPN app, or contacting customer support for assistance.
Can you use a free VPN service to access NBA League Pass content?
While it is possible to use a free VPN service to access NBA League Pass content, it is not recommended. Free VPN services often have limitations on data usage, connection speed, and server locations, which can make it difficult to stream NBA games smoothly. Additionally, free VPN services may not provide the same level of privacy and security as paid VPN services.
Is it possible to bypass blackout restrictions on NBA League Pass using a VPN?
Yes, it is possible to bypass blackout restrictions on NBA League Pass using a VPN. However, it is important to note that using a VPN to bypass blackout restrictions may violate the terms of service of NBA League Pass. Additionally, not all VPN services are able to bypass blackout restrictions, so it is important to choose a VPN service that is known to work with NBA League Pass.
How to configure NBA League Pass with a VPN on Apple TV?
To configure NBA League Pass with a VPN on Apple TV, follow these steps:
- Set up a VPN connection on your router or use a VPN-enabled router.
- Connect your Apple TV to the router.
- Launch the NBA League Pass app on your Apple TV and start watching the game.
Note that configuring a VPN on Apple TV can be more complex than on other devices, so it may be helpful to consult the VPN provider’s documentation or customer support for assistance.
