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How to Watch Blackout Games on NBA League Pass with a VPN

Simon Migliano

Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Additional Research by Luke Williams

Our Verdict

To watch blackout games on NBA League Pass, use a VPN to get an IP address from outside of the US and Canada. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for NBA League Pass because of its fast speeds and global server network. Using it, you can bypass geo-blocks to live stream your local NBA team's games in HD.

NBA League Pass VPN

Quick Guide: How to Watch Blackout 2023 NBA Games with a VPN

  1. Subscribe to a VPN that works with NBA League Pass and download the app. Our top choice is ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a VPN server location outside the blackout region: We found that Germany is subject to fewer blackout restrictions than any other location.
  3. Open NBA League Pass and stream your chosen NBA game.
  4. For detailed instructions for your device, jump to the dedicated section of this guide.

NBA League Pass broadcasts every 2023–24 NBA season game. However, due to broadcasting restrictions, the platform blocks you from accessing your local team’s games and games televised on cable channels.

The NBA enforces these geo-restrictions by detecting your IP address location. Using a virtual private network (VPN), you can change your IP address to one located outside of the blackout region and live stream every NBA game.

Very few VPNs can beat NBA League Pass’ strong VPN blocks, though. After testing 65 VPNs, we found that just four of them bypassed the streaming service’s geo-blocks.

What Is the Best VPN for NBA League Pass?

Based on our streaming tests, the best NBA League Pass VPNs are:

  1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for NBA League Pass
  2. Surfshark: Affordable VPN with GPS spoofing on Android
  3. Windscribe Free: 100% free VPN that beats NBA geo-blocks on many devices

The best VPN for NBA League Pass in 2023 is ExpressVPN, with a rating of 9.4/10. It offers servers in 106 countries, including 11 US states on both the East and West coasts. In our testing, ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use apps worked consistently to stream local and nationally blacked out NBA games at high speed.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use these VPNs with NBA League Pass on every device, including in a web browser, on Android, and Roku.

How to Bypass NBA Blackouts Using a VPN

Using a VPN that works with NBA League Pass is the easiest way to live stream blackout NBA games.

By connecting to a VPN server, you can change your IP address to a location outside of the blackout region.

We found that you can watch nationally blacked-out games on NBA League Pass, like those covered by ESPN in the US, by connecting to a VPN server in the Netherlands or Germany.

For games subject to local blackout restrictions, we recommend connecting to a server in a nearby state instead. That way, your download speeds will remain as fast as possible.

To help you find the best server and VPN service for what you want to watch, use the table below:

Broadcast Channel Blackout Region Best VPN Server Location Compatible VPNs
NBA League Pass & NBA TV Local Nearby state ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN, Surfshark
ESPN, TNT, ABC National Netherlands or Germany ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN, Windscribe

While setting up a VPN to bypass NBA blackouts is straightforward on Windows and Mac, it’s more complicated for other devices such as Roku and Android, which require many additional steps.

It’s also not possible to watch blackout NBA games on an iPhone or Apple TV, as these devices aren’t compatible with GPS spoofing apps.

In the following sections, we’ll show you step-by-step how to watch blackout NBA games on every possible platform.

EXPERT ADVICE: Despite claims from other websites, you don’t need to sign up for an international NBA League Pass account. Our methods for bypassing NBA blackouts work with your existing US-based NBA account.

How to Watch Blackout NBA Games on Desktop or Laptop (Windows and Mac)

To watch every NBA game on Windows and Mac, simply connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout territory and open NBA League Pass in your web browser.

Here’s step-by-step instructions on how to use a VPN to stream blackout NBA games on a laptop or computer:

  1. Sign up for a VPN service that works with NBA League Pass: ExpressVPN was the most reliable option in our tests.
  2. 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.
  3. Open NBA League Pass in your web browser: You can use your existing US-based NBA account.
  4. 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.

Watch us using ExpressVPN to change our IP address location on NBA League Pass in the video below:

Using a VPN to bypass blackouts on NBA League Pass.

How to Bypass NBA League Pass Blackouts on Mobile (Android)

On the mobile app, NBA League Pass determines your location by using your GPS location, not your IP address location. Therefore, the vast majority of VPN services will not work.

Thankfully, a few VPNs can spoof your GPS location on Android devices. Surfshark and Windscribe are the only NBA League Pass VPNs that have this feature.

This method won’t work on an iPhone, though, as iOS prevents GPS spoofing. But there is a workaround for iPadOS.

Here’s how to use a VPN with NBA League Pass on Android:

  1. Sign up for a VPN with GPS spoofing functionality: We recommend Surfshark because of its global server network and easy-to-use apps.
  2. Install the VPN app by downloading it from the Google Play Store.
  3. Log in to your account and turn on Override GPS Location: Settings > VPN Settings > Advanced Settings > Override GPS Location > Let’s Go.
  4. Reveal Developer Options on your device: Navigate your device’s Settings > About Phone > Software Information > tap Build Number seven times.
  5. Grant the VPN app GPS privileges: Reopen the Settings app > Developer Options > Select Mock Location App > VPN name (e.g. Surfshark)
  6. 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.
  7. Clear cache on the NBA app: Open Settings > Apps > NBA > Storage > Clear cache.
  8. Open the NBA app and select the game you want to watch: You’ll now have access to blacked-out games on the service.
Live streaming NBA games on Android

Surfshark and Windscribe are the only VPNs with a fake GPS feature on Android.

EXPERT ADVICE: 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

Accessing geo-blocked NBA games is easy on Firestick and Android TV devices. As long as your VPN service has an app for these streaming devices, simply open the app and connect to a server location where the game isn’t blacked out.

Here’s how to use a VPN to access geo-blocked NBA games on Firestick and Android TV:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN service that works with NBA League Pass: We recommend ExpressVPN for streaming devices.
  2. 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.
  3. Open the app and connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout region.
  4. 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.
  5. Open the NBA app and live stream the game you want to watch.
NBA League Pass on Fire TV

It’s simple to use a VPN to stream live NBA games on Fire TV.

How to Watch All NBA Games on Roku and Chromecast

You can’t install VPNs onto Roku or most Chromecast devices. These devices also don’t support manual DNS addresses, making them incompatible with Smart DNS tools.

The easiest way to bypass geo-blocks on Chromecast and Roku is by setting up a virtual router from your Windows PC.

Here’s how to share a VPN connection from your Windows PC to stream blackout NBA games on Roku and Chromecast:

  1. Sign up for an NBA League Pass VPN: We recommend using ExpressVPN to spoof your location on Chromecast and Roku.
  2. Download the VPN app onto your Windows computer.
  3. If using a Chromecast, download the NBA app onto your mobile: You won’t need to do this on Roku.
  4. Enable your PC’s virtual router: On your PC, open Command Prompt and type the following commands:
    1. netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NETWORKNAME key=PASSWORD
    2. netsh wlan start hostednetwork
  5. 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.
  6. Turn on the mobile hotspot: Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot > on.
  7. 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.
  8. Broadcast your WiFi connection: Open the dropdown menu under Home networking connection and choose the name of your newly created network.
  9. Using the Windows VPN app, connect to a server outside of the blackout region: Your virtual router will automatically broadcast this server location.
  10. Connect your Roku or Chromecast to your virtual router network: You can do this from the Settings app on Roku or use the Google Home app on your phone for Chromecast.
  11. Open the NBA app on Roku or cast from the NBA mobile app for Chromecast: You’ll now be able to access every game on NBA League Pass.

EXPERT ADVICE: If you don’t have a Windows computer, you’ll have to use a VPN router. We recommend ExpressVPN’s Aircove router as it’s easy to set up and is cheaper than its alternatives.

NBA Blackout Checker Based on IP Location

Use our table below to find out which popular basketball teams you’re blocked from viewing, based on your real location or the location of your VPN server’s IP address.

To gain access to the game, simply connect to a VPN server in one of our recommended locations.

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

Make sure to connect to a VPN server from one of our recommended NBA VPN services. If you don’t, your IP address will likely be blocked by NBA League Pass.

EXPERT ADVICE: If you’re blocked from a game while connected outside of the blackout region for your team, make sure your IP address isn’t within the blackout region for the opposing team. Otherwise, you will not be able to live stream the game.

Analysis of the Best VPNs for NBA League Pass

After testing 65 VPN services with NBA League Pass, we identified three VPNs that worked to live stream geo-blocked NBA games: ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe.

These VPN services scored better than any others according to our NBA VPN test methodology.

ExpressVPN and Surfshark are premium VPN services, meaning you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to use them. For that, you get access to the fastest connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth.

Windscribe is 100% free, but it comes with many limitations, like fewer server locations and a monthly data cap.

You can quickly compare the best VPNs for NBA League Pass side-by-side in the table below:

ExpressVPN Surfshark Windscribe Free
Ranking for NBA League Pass 1st 2nd 3rd
NBA League Pass Rating 9.4 6.2 4.8
International NBA League Pass Yes No Yes
GPS Spoofing No Yes Yes
US States 11 18 7
Countries 106 100 11
Average International Download Speed 83Mbps 62Mbps 66Mbps
Cheapest Price $6.67 $2.21 100% Free
Official Website expressvpn.com surfshark.com windscribe.com

We’ll go through each option in more detail in the sections below.

1. ExpressVPN: Best Overall VPN for NBA League Pass

Streams local and nationally blacked out NBA games with the fastest speeds.

Pros Cons
Servers in 11 US states for bypassing local blackouts Expensive
Servers in 106 countries for streaming NBA League Pass International Doesn’t work on Android due to a lack of a GPS spoofing feature
Fast connection speeds for no buffering MediaStreamer doesn’t work with NBA League pass
Easy-to-use Firestick app
Router app for extra device compatibility
24/7 customer support
Overall NBA League Pass Rating: 9.4/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our NBA VPN testing methodology.

Bypassing Local Blackouts: 10/1010

Bypassing National Blackouts: 10/1010

Speed: 9.7/109.7

NBA Streaming Device Compatibility: 7.5/107.5

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for NBA League Pass. Although it’s more expensive than the other VPNs in this list, its reliable performance, easy-to-use apps, and fast connection speeds make it worth the extra cost. This also makes ExpressVPN the best VPN for streaming the US Open Tennis.

It’s versatile, too — you can use it to stream dozens of other sports. We’ve used it to watch the ATP Finals for free, to live stream Premier League soccer, and more.

Here are the ExpressVPN servers that work with NBA League Pass:

  • For bypassing local blackouts: New York, Atlanta
  • For bypassing national blackouts: Frankfurt – 1, The Hague

Streams In-Market and Out-of-Market NBA Games

After testing 65 free and premium VPNs with NBA League Pass, 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.

You can how ExpressVPN compares to its main competitors in the table below:

VPN Service US Server International Server
ExpressVPN
NordVPN
PrivateVPN
Surfshark
Windscribe Free

ExpressVPN’s excellent performance is down to its large server network. To avoid local blackouts, we connected to a streaming-optimized server in one of the 11 US states it offers — spanning both the East and West Coasts.

Though some other top VPNs, including Private Internet Access and CyberGhost, have servers in even more US locations, we found their IP addresses are blocked by NBA League Pass. Both VPNs failed to unblock a single live game in any of our tests.

To conceal our real IP address to avoid nationally blacked-out games, we connected to a server in one of the 92 countries provided outside of the US and Canada. We recommend connecting to the Netherlands or Germany, as these countries are subject to fewer blackout restrictions.

As you can see in the screenshot below, we streamed a nationally blacked-out game on NBA League Pass by connecting to a Frankfurt ExpressVPN server.

Streaming NBA League Pass using ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is fast enough to live stream games in HD.

Connecting to one of its compatible servers is simple by using ExpressVPN’s easy-to-use software. Simply tap the three dots on the home screen and select the name of the country you want to appear from.

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. This is more than fast enough to stream NBA League Pass in a maximum 1080p resolution, which requires a minimum connection speed of 3Mbps. These impressive speeds also make ExpressVPN the best VPN for streaming the US Open Tennis.

You can see how ExpressVPN’s connection speeds compared to other VPNs for NBA in the table below:

VPN Service Average International Download Speed
ExpressVPN 83Mbps
NordVPN 73Mbps
PrivateVPN 73Mbps
Surfshark 75Mbps

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 Apple TV and 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

Affordable VPN service with GPS spoofing functionality on Android.

Pros Cons
GPS spoofing feature bypasses local blackouts on Android Doesn’t work with nationally blacked-out games
Fast connection speeds using the WireGuard protocol Smart DNS feature doesn’t work with NBA League Pass
Cheap subscriptions No router app
Intuitive apps for many devices
Unlimited simultaneous connections
7-day free trial on mobile
Overall NBA League Pass Rating: 6.3/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our NBA VPN testing methodology.

Bypassing Local Blackouts: 10/1010

Bypassing National Blackouts: 0.0/100.0

Speed: 9.1/109.1

NBA Streaming Device Compatibility: 7.5/107.5

Surfshark is the top choice for streaming geo-blocked NBA games on Android. Its VPN app on Android includes a GPS spoofer, making it one of the only NBA VPNs that works on the platform. For this reason, it’s the best VPN to bypass local NHL blackouts on Android, too.

However, we don’t recommend it if you want to watch the NBA on any other platform. It doesn’t access nationally televised games and it’s compatible with fewer devices than other options.

Here are the Surfshark servers that work with NBA League Pass:

  • For bypassing local blackouts: Dallas, Atlanta, Ashburn

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.

That said, we were disappointed with Surfshark’s compatibility with other devices. Its Smart DNS functionality failed to change our DNS address when streaming the NBA. Additionally, the VPN lacks a router app, so we had to set up a virtual router from our PC to watch games on our Roku and Chromecast.

Doesn’t Stream Nationally Blacked Out Games

Our research found that none of Surfshark’s international servers work with NBA League Pass. As a result, you won’t be able to use it to bypass nationally blacked out games, like those on ESPN and TNT.

Many of its servers in 18 US states worked, though. You can still get a US IP address from outside of the blackout region for non-televised games.

While connected to Surfshark servers around the US, live games loaded instantly and we didn’t encounter any errors. We found that videos streamed more quickly when we connected using the WireGuard protocol, too.

Using Surfshark to watch blackout games on NBA League Pass

Surfshark can only stream games subject to local blackout restrictions.

Cheap Pricing Plans and a 7-Day Free Trial

Despite its excellent performance, Surfshark is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. On its 26-month subscription plan, the monthly cost of Surfshark is $2.21 per month, a saving of over 60% when compared to ExpressVPN.

If you set up your account through the iOS, Android, or Mac app, you’ll also be able to use Surfshark free for seven days. During this time, you’ll have access to the VPN’s easy-to-use apps, secure encryption, and 24/7 customer support.

You can see how affordable Surfshark is to alternative VPNs in the table below:

VPN Service Pay Monthly Price Cheapest Price
Surfshark $12.95 $2.21/mo over 26 months
CyberGhost $12.99 $2.03/mo over 26 months
ExpressVPN $12.95 $6.67/mo over 15 months
NordVPN $11.99 $3.29/mo over 24 months
PIA $11.99 $2.03/mo over 26 months

3. Windscribe: Best Free VPN for NBA League Pass

The only 100% free VPN that bypasses NBA blackouts.

Pros Cons
Free with no payment details required Only one server works with the NBA
Works around both types of blackouts 10GB monthly data cap
Location Warp fakes GPS location on Android Slower download speeds than other NBA VPNs
Excellent app for Firestick & Android TV No live chat customer support
Smart DNS tool works on Smart TVs
Secure encryption & private logging policy
Overall NBA League Pass Rating: 4.0/10

This overall score is based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our NBA VPN testing methodology.

Bypassing Local Blackouts: 0.0/100.0

Bypassing National Blackouts: 5.0/105.0

Speed: 8.8/108.8

NBA Streaming Device Compatibility: 8.8/108.8

Windscribe is the only VPN that works to watch blackout NBA games for free. All the other popular free VPNs we tested, like Atlas VPN and Proton VPN, failed to unblock NBA League Pass on any server.

Here’s the Windscribe server that works with NBA League Pass:

  • For bypassing national blackouts: Germany – Frankfurt

Limited Server Options

In our tests, we could only stream live NBA games using Windscribe Free’s Germany server. We were blocked from accessing the service while connected to all of its other free locations, like the UK and the US.

Windscribe is the only VPN that can bypass the NBA’s geo-blocks.

While this allowed us to access NBA League Pass International to stream every type of blacked-out games, we could not switch to another server whenever it stopped working.

Although this only happened once, it meant we couldn’t stream any games until Windscribe fixed the issue. The premium VPNs in this list, like ExpressVPN and Surfshark, have dozens of compatible servers to prevent this from happening.

Additionally, connecting to a server in Germany from the US meant our speeds dropped from 100Mbps to 80Mbps. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, recorded a download speed of 93Mbps when we connected to a server in a neighboring state.

Compatible with Every Streaming Device

Windscribe was able to stream live NBA games on more devices than any other VPN. It has options for faking your location on Android, Apple TV, and Firestick.

Unlike every other VPN, Windscribe’s Smart DNS feature, Control D, works with NBA League Pass. We used it to stream the service on our Apple TV and LG Smart TV. Although it costs extra, Control D has a 30-day free trial and doesn’t require any payment details.

Like Surfshark, Windscribe’s Free App comes with a fake GPS feature for Android. Although it wasn’t as easy to set up as Surfshark’s, it still successfully spoofed our GPS coordinates.

For streaming on Roku and Chromecast, you’ll have to share a VPN connection using your PC’s mobile hotspot. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to use Windscribe’s router configuration files, although this can be complicated and requires a compatible router.

In the table below, you can see how Windscribe Free has more impressive device compatibility than even premium VPN services:

VPN Service Compatibility Features
Windscribe Fake GPS, Smart DNS, Router configuration files
ExpressVPN Native Router app
NordVPN Router configuration files
PIA Router configuration files
Surfshark Fake GPS, Router configuration files

10GB Data Cap Isn’t Enough for Most Users

Windscribe is completely free to use. You don’t have to provide any payment details and the app doesn’t try to upgrade you to a premium subscription.

Sadly, NBA League Pass no longer offers a seven-day free trial. As a result, you won’t be able to stream NBA games for free with Windscribe.

Windscribe imposes restrictions on free users, including a 10GB monthly data cap. We found this data allowance was only sufficient for streaming a single game, as the NBA app automatically adjusts the resolution depending on your internet speed. This meant we weren’t able to choose a lower resolution to save data.

Windscribe Free is only suitable to watch a one-off blacked-out NBA game. If you want to regularly access NBA League Pass from anywhere, you’ll have to use a premium NBA VPN with unlimited bandwidth.

Popular VPNs We Don’t Recommend for NBA League Pass

NBA League Pass imposes stricter VPN blocks than most other streaming services. ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe Free were the only VPNs that met or exceeded our testing criteria.

As you’d expect, a VPN automatically failed our tests if it couldn’t stream any blacked-out NBA games. But we also excluded VPNs for other reasons, like poor streaming device compatibility and insufficient download speeds.

Here are five popular VPNs we tested and the reasons why they didn’t make our list of the best VPNs for NBA League Pass:

CyberGhost

Reason for exclusion:

  • Doesn’t work with NBA League Pass on any of its servers
Encountering an error message when trying to stream NBA games using CyberGhost

CyberGhost failed to stream any NBA games on League Pass.

CyberGhost claims that it “works perfectly with NBA League Pass” on all of its servers. However, we were unable to watch a single live NBA game while connected to a server in any of its 90 server locations.

NordVPN

Reason for exclusion:

  • Doesn’t work with NBA League Pass on international servers
  • No GPS spoofing functionality
Encountering an error message when trying to stream NBA games using NordVPN

NordVPN can’t work around national blackout restrictions.

Although other VPN review websites state that NordVPN is the best VPN for NBA League Pass, our tests found that, unlike ExpressVPN and Windscribe, NordVPN can’t stream nationally blacked-out NBA games.

While connected to NordVPN’s international server locations, our IP address was always blocked by NBA League Pass. This meant that we were unable to stream games that were broadcast on a national network.

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.

Private Internet Access

Reason for exclusion:

  • Doesn’t work with NBA League Pass on any of its servers
Encountering an error message when trying to stream NBA games using Private Internet Access

PIA couldn’t access NBA League Pass on any of its servers.

Similarly to CyberGhost, PIA VPN claims it “works great with NBA League Pass” on any “server location of your choice.”

Despite its vast network of 18,651 servers, we were unable to stream NBA League Pass while connected to any of them.

PrivateVPN

Reason for exclusion:

  • No GPS spoofing functionality
  • No Smart DNS feature
  • No router app
  • Slow international download speeds
Using PrivateVPN with NBA League Pass

PrivateVPN can stream NBA League Pass, but it isn’t compatible with many streaming devices.

Along with ExpressVPN, PrivateVPN is one of only two VPNs that successfully streamed live NBA games on US and international servers.

Although it is excellent at bypassing geo-blocks, it didn’t make our recommendations 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. This is because the VPN lacks fake GPS, Smart DNS, and a router app.

VeePN

Reason for exclusion:

  • Doesn’t work with NBA League Pass on any of its servers

VeePN promotes itself as the “best VPN for NBA League Pass” and claims all 60 of its server locations bypass blackouts.

Encountering an error message when trying to stream NBA games using VeePN

All of VeePN’s server IP addresses are blocked by NBA League Pass.

However, our tests found that VeeVPN is unable to work around any blackout restrictions. All of its IP addresses were blocked and we were shown an error message.

EXPERT ADVICE: If your VPN isn’t working with NBA League Pass, try our workaround and troubleshooting tips.

How We Tested and Chose the Best VPNs for NBA League Pass

We put 65 VPN services through our custom NBA VPN testing methodology to find the best free and premium options.

Each VPN was tested using NBA League Pass in a Google Chrome browser on a PC running Windows 10. If compatible, it was then tested on Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV.

Our NBA VPN testing is divided into four rating metrics:

  • Bypassing Local Blackouts (30% weighting)
  • Bypassing Local Blackouts (30% weighting)
  • Speed (20% weighting)
  • NBA Streaming Device Compatibility (20% weighting)

Each testing category was designed to provide a simple positive or negative result, as to remove the possibility of bias or human error in the testing process.

You can read a detailed breakdown of how the most popular VPNs performed in each testing category in the sections below.

1. Bypassing Local Blackouts (30% of Overall Rating)

A top NBA VPN should be able to bypass local blackouts, like those imposed by NBA League Pass and NBA TV, via a nearby server in the US. That way, you can maintain the fastest possible internet speeds.

We tested and recorded each VPNs ability to stream NBA games while connected to servers on the East and West Coasts of the US.

Testing multiple VPNs with NBA League Pass

We tested 65 VPN’s to see which could bypass local blackouts.

We scored a VPN 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.

You can see the full results of our testing for this criteria in the table below:

As you can see, 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.

To see how the VPNs performed, we tried accessing games subject to national blackout restrictions while connected to VPN servers outside of the US and Canada.

Testing multiple VPNs with NBA League Pass International

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.

You can see the full results of our testing for this criteria in the table below:

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.

To record a VPN’s connection speeds, 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.

Testing Windscribe's connection speeds

Every VPN goes through our standardized speed testing process.

We enter these raw speed figures into our calculator, which then outputs a rating out of 10. You can read more about how we calculate a VPN’s speed rating elsewhere.

See the full results of our testing for this criteria in the table below:

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. Like Smart DNS functionality for Apple TV and a router app for Roku.

As the NBA Android app determines your device from your GPS coordinates, an NBA VPN will ideally include a fake GPS spoofing feature to maintain compatibility.

To evaluate the VPNs in this category, we downloaded the software on every possible platform. If available, we also installed it on a router and tested its Smart DNS functionality.

Configuring Control D to unblock NBA League Pass

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
  • Smart DNS

You can see the full results of our testing for this criteria in the table below:

ExpressVPN was the only NBA VPN to include an app for routers, while only Surfshark and Windscribe had a fake GPS feature for Android.

Why Are NBA Games Blacked Out?

NBA League Pass enforces two types of blackout restrictions. Firstly, games that are broadcast on national TV channels, like ESPN, are not available to stream anywhere in the US.

Secondly, games that are broadcast on NBA TV or local TV channels, like regional sports networks (RSNs), 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 instance, according to Investopedia, 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.

However, local NBA blackout laws may ease in the future. In March 2023, the owner of the Bally Sports Network RSN filed for bankruptcy.

In response, 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.”

For now, though, the only way to stream blacked-out NBA games is to connect to a VPN server outside of the blackout zone.

Why Are NBA TV Games Blocked in My Area?

Every NBA League Pass subscription includes NBA TV, but you may be blocked from accessing some games if you’re not using a VPN.

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.

To bypass this, simply connect to a VPN server located in a different market, like Los Angeles or Washington DC.

How to Bypass NBA League Pass Error Codes

If your VPN isn’t working with NBA League Pass, most often it’s because the IP address of the VPN server has been banned.

The most effective fix is to use a top NBA VPN and connect to a compatible server. Then, open NBA League Pass in a private browsing window, as this will prevent the browser from storing cookies and cache.

For specific instructions on how to work around the two most common NBA League Pass error codes, see the sections below.

Error Code 7027: Out of country blocked because client is neither in home country nor in content

NBA League Pass VPN error code 7027

NBA League Pass displays the 7027 error message when it detects you’re using a VPN. To fix this, you’ll have to use one of the VPNs we recommend and connect to a server that accesses geo-blocked NBA games.

You can see which VPN servers we’ve verified work with NBA League Pass elsewhere in this guide.

Error Code: 3312: Content restricted for geolocation

NBA League Pass VPN error code 3312

You will see the 3312 error message if your IP address is within the blackout region. To get around this, connect to a VPN server where the game is accessible.

You can view the regions where the most popular teams are blacked out in our summary table.