The 2022/23 NBA season is upon us. It kicks off on October 18th, 2022, and I can’t wait for it to begin. You can find all the action on NBA League Pass. As a matter of fact, the streaming channel is the ideal destination for every NBA fan in the world.
NBA League Pass allows you to watch all 82 NBA regular-season matches, in addition to pre-season and original programs. However, blackout restrictions still apply.
In other words, you won’t be able to stream local games from inside your team’s TV market; not live anyway. So if you’re a fan of Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, you’ll have to go outside California borders to watch them play live. I don’t know about you, but that sounds very inconvenient.
Luckily, we have a couple of technologies that allow us to change our online location and trick NBA League Pass. Ready? Here’s how you can stream your team’s every game from the comfort of your home.
NBA 2022/23 Season – Blackouts Begone
Time needed: 6 minutes
Blackouts can easily be bypassed using Virtual Private Networks. Users who are unfamiliar with the software might think that the installation process is complicated. But the truth is, it’s one of the easiest things you’ll ever do. Just a few clicks and voila! You’re ready to use it.
- Sign up for a premium VPN service
Make sure it has plenty of reliable servers. We recommend ExpressVPN.
- Download the VPN application.
You can find a dedicated app on iOS, Android, Windows, as well as Mac.
- Open it and sign in to your account.
Submit your newly created username and password.
- Connect to a VPN server.
You have two options here:
– If you want to purchase an international NBA League Pass, connect to any server outside the US and follow the steps.
– If you wish to buy or keep the American League Pass, select a server that’s outside your local team’s TV market. - Stream NBA’s 2022/23 season live.
Watch any NBA game you’d like live no matter where you are.
Bypass NBA League Pass Blackout – The Full Walkthrough
Well, you guessed it. We have a lot to go through in order to shed more light on what League Pass is and how to bypass its blackout restrictions.
What You Need
To bypass NBA League Pass blackouts, you need everything on the following list:
- A VPN subscription.
- An NBA League Pass account.
- NBA LP compatible streaming device.
NBA League Pass Dissected
NBA League Pass is the National Basketball Association’s online streaming service. It allows you to watch every game throughout the season, depending on which package you purchase. The channel has been around for quite some time now, as the NBA launched it before the 1994-1995 season.
US NBA League Pass
The American NBA League Pass is an out-of-market service that offers live games, as long as they are out of your local team’s TV market. That means if you live in New York, you can only watch live away matches of the Knicks. But when they play at home, games will be blacked out.
US viewers have two plans that they can purchase – League Pass and League Pass Premium.
As seen in the image above, the subscription clearly states that you’ll be able to watch hundreds of games live – not every game.
You’ll see the difference when we talk about the international League Pass in the next section. However, there’s one thing in common: A 7-day free trial.
International Pass
Subscribers to the international version of the NBA League Pass get to enjoy all the basketball action without annoying blackouts (except for Canada).
NBA fans can sign up for this service from pretty much anywhere, except for a few countries like Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Iraq.
In the past, NBA League Pass provided several subscription plans, catering to their customers’ needs. The convenience was totally there as users can even sign up for a subscription that allowed them to only stream their team’s matches.
Now, only two subscription plans remain – League Pass and League Pass Premium.
Aside from watching every game live, new customers get to benefit from a 7-day free trial. That’s a great addition to an already-excellent offer.
What Are Blackout Restrictions?
The NBA has similar blackout restrictions to Major League Baseball. Whenever a particular team is playing at home, only the satellite or cable provider can broadcast the event. That’s because these parties have exclusive airing rights.
“Blackout restrictions exist because local and national content providers have certain exclusive rights to televise live content.”
NBA
Therefore, the National Basketball Association has no choice but to prevent streaming services from showing the match live. But as soon as the game is over, it becomes available for streaming.
Where’s the fun in that, though? Fans should be able to enjoy basketball games as they happen, not worry about score spoilers. Besides, why should cable subscribers enjoy all the action, while cord-cutters miss out on live entertainment?
As a result, streamers decided to take matters into their own hands. They registered to VPN and Smart DNS proxy services to bypass blackouts.
Watch Live Games on NBA League Pass With a VPN
NBA League Pass can determine your location using the IP address of your device. Once it reads that you are in the same region as your local team, it will block your access to the game.
Now, what you need to do is simple: spoof your online location. In other words, you have to trick NBA League Pass to think that you are someplace else. And the best way to do that is by using a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN is a program that operates private servers in several countries all over the world. It reroutes your internet connection through a secure and encrypted tunnel immediately after you connect to one of its servers. That will prevent any third parties from tracking your online activity.
Then, it gives you a new IP address that matches the region of your VPN server. That means that if you connect to a server from Australia, you’ll get an Australian IP. This entire takes about a few clicks and seconds to complete.
And the final result? The World Wide Web will think that you are in a different region or country. That includes NBA League Pass, which means you can watch your local team play live at home.
Choose Between American or International
There are two ways to bypass blackouts with a VPN if you’re a US resident. You can either keep your American League Pass or switch to a server from another US state. That means if you’re a Texan who wants to watch the Houston Rockets play at home, you have to connect to a server outside Texas, like Chicago, for example.
Or you can also use your VPN to subscribe to an international League Pass while in the United States. Then, you simply connect to the same server you selected upon registration, and Eureka! You’ll be able to watch every game live from anywhere.
Some cord-cutters might opt for the first method because the US pass is less expensive. But others may prefer the second one because foreign servers guarantee you won’t encounter blackout restrictions.
Which VPNs Are Safe to Use?
No matter which procedure you choose, one is for sure: you must have a premium VPN service.
That means your provider must offer the most advanced encryption in the industry to protect your online privacy and security. AES 256-bit: Remember this protocol because you’ll be seeing a lot of it. If your VPN does not use it, then immediately disregard it and search for a new one. 256-bit means trillions of possible combinations, so it’s practically unbreachable.
Another necessary feature is the zero-logs policy. It ensures that your provider won’t store any sensitive data about your online identity, activity, or connection. And most importantly, your VPN won’t share or sell such information with third parties.
Furthermore, the brand you’re using must never compromise on speed, even if it uses the most robust encryption. As you may know, secure protocols can slow down your connection, but the best VPNs make sure that the drop remains unnoticeable.
And finally, elite services have a server network that covers strategic locations throughout the globe. I mean major cities across countries like the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, the MENA region, and Australia.
Ignore Free VPNs
Now that you know which features you must search for when selecting a VPN, it’s equally important to determine which ones to avoid.
To put it simply, whenever you see the word free, run the other way. It costs a lot of money to operate and maintain a VPN service, so there’s no way you can enjoy its benefits for no charge. And unfortunately, that fee is usually your online privacy.
Free VPNs make a profit by providing valuable information about you to third parties. They store data like your online activity and sell it to advertisement companies, who then use such details to deliver customized ads.
Furthermore, they often use weak encryption protocols, which means it’s easy for hackers and ISPs to decrypt your input.
Besides, even if you don’t mind this apparent invasion of privacy, free VPNs are slow and inefficient. They can’t access most streaming channels, and if they somehow manage to do that, video buffering will drive you mad.
In other words, you can avoid all this trouble by registering for a high-quality VPN.
Best VPNs for NBA League Pass
Don’t have time to go through dozens of VPNs and check out their features? Well, don’t worry about it because I got your back. I put several providers to the test and selected the best four with the highest scores.
- 30-Day Money-back Guarantee
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Apps For All Your Devices
- 24/7 Live Support
ExpressVPN
The MVP of all VPNs. Users who subscribe to this service are in for a treat because ExpressVPN offers some of the best features out there. It scored terrific results in the speed test, as well as other key areas. That includes security, privacy, customer support, compatibility, coverage, and more.
The company has a vast network of 3,000+ servers across 94 countries worldwide. That means it can give you different IP addresses from every continent except Antarctica. And you know what that means? Access to any international NBA League Pass, as well as other numerous streaming services.
Their customer support team is as professional as you like and available round the clock. You can contact them via email, support ticket, and live chat. They also have guides, FAQs, and articles to help with any common technical problems.
As for privacy and security, ExpressVPN uses military-grade AES 256-bit encryption. That’s the most robust protocol in the business. It will keep your data and activity safe from the prying eyes of ISPs, hackers, and government agencies.
Moreover, the provider follows a strict no-logging policy. That means it won’t keep records or share anything that reveals your online identity or activity. And to prove that there isn’t any fishy business, the company brings in independent auditors to maintain transparency and credibility.
“We invite independent auditors and testers to review our privacy policy and technology.”
ExpressVPN
And when it comes to compatible devices, ExpressVPN can be installed on every major platform, including Windows, Linux, Android, iOs, and macOS.
Pros
- Five-star customer support.
- Compatible with major operating systems.
- Torrenting and P2P activity Allowance.
- Access to all Netflix libraries.
- Military-grade encryption.
- Zero-logs policy.
- Free Smart DNS Service.
- 30-day refund program.
- Vast server network.
- Five simultaneous device connections.
- A kill switch.
- British Virgin Islands headquarters.
Cons
- Priciest monthly subscription fee on the list.
BulletVPN
BulletVPN is another smart pick to consider if you’re looking to bypass blackout restrictions. It has an extensive server network with a presence in key cities across the world. That means you’ll still be able to buy an international League Pass while in the USA.
This service is still relatively new, so the number of servers should not come as no surprise. What is worth mentioning, however, is the high-level features that BulletVPN provides despite its young age.
It uses the same robust encryption as its peers and doesn’t keep records of your internet activity. Moreover, the company has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you can get a refund if you’re dissatisfied with the service.
But its most significant advantage is speed. BulletVPN’s servers are known for the fast rates they offer, hence the name “Bullet.” It also supports five VPN protocols: PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, IKEv1, IKEv2, as well as WireGuard.
Pros
- AES-256 encryption.
- No-logs policy.
- Kill switch + BulletShield.
- Fast speeds.
- Unblocks streaming platforms.
- Allows torrenting and P2P.
- Free Smart DNS.
- 30-day refund policy.
- Six simultaneous device connections.
- round-the-clock customer support.
Cons
- No browser extension.
NordVPN
When you can’t claim a first-place finish, you have to settle for the runner-up spot. NordVPN is the best of the rest on my list but was not too far behind ExpressVPN.
That’s because it uses one of the best security and privacy features I have ever seen. That includes a stringent no-logging policy and a unique double VPN protection that encrypts your traffic not once, but twice. It also uses AES 256-bit encryption, which means that cybercriminals will have a hard time busting into your data; that’s for sure.
It also has CyberSec, a technology that automatically blocks malicious websites and annoying ads.
Furthermore, the company headquarters is in Panama, a country with no data retention laws. This means that the service doesn’t have to submit any information about your data or online activity to authorities.
NordVPN has award-winning customer service support that is ready to assist you whenever you encounter any problems. They are available 24/7 via email, live chat, and help center. And its server network will blow your mind, as it has over 5,000 servers in 62 countries.
Pros
- CyberSec.
- Smart DNS proxy (SmartPlay).
- AES 256-bit encryption.
- Based in Panama.
- Award-winning customer support.
- No logs recorded or shared.
- Double VPN.
- Large server network.
- Six concurrent device connections.
- Compatible with major platforms.
- Torrenting support.
- Works with Netflix and other streaming channels.
Cons
- Some servers I tested were a bit slow.
Get an International NBA League With Smart DNS
Although the best way to bypass blackouts is with a VPN, it is not the only method. You could also give Smart DNS proxies a try. But beware that they are not as efficient as virtual private networks.
For starters, these tools don’t change your IP address. They only redirect the part of your internet connection that reveals your location. Moreover, they don’t offer any encryption, which won’t affect your internet speed but will compromise your privacy.
Smart DNS proxies allow simultaneous access to different streaming channels. That means you can watch NBA games and other programs at the same time. Furthermore, you can install them on any device, including routers, Smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
However, they don’t have dedicated apps you can download. As a result, you have to configure them manually. Moreover, they won’t work if your ISP uses transparent proxies or DNS hijacking.
But if you prefer to use a Smart DNS service instead of a VPN, you must have an international NBA League Pass. The US version won’t allow you to bypass blackouts. Additionally, it’s better to use your PC or Mac because iOS and Android devices have location services that can determine where you are.
Unlocator
Smart DNS proxies may not be the ideal choice to avoid blackout or geo-restrictions, but they can get the job done nonetheless. However, you must subscribe to the best service out there: Unlocator.
It supports over 200 streaming channels, including NBA League Pass, beIN Sports, BBC Sport, BT Sport, Fox Sports Go, and NFL Game Pass. The service also has a seven-day free trial period that allows you to take it out for a spin before you commit.
- Go to the Unlocator website and sign up.
- To set up the service on your device, simply follow the setup manuals, guides, and videos.
- Head back to your international NBA League Pass and launch it.
- Watch any game live.
NBA 2022/23 Season – FAQ
Now that you know how to avoid blackouts with a VPN and Smart DNS proxy, let’s dive into the season even more:
When Will the NBA Season Begin?
The 2022/23 NBA season will kick off on October 18th, 2022.
What Devices Can I Stream NBA League Pass on?
You can stream any game live on the following devices:
Smartphones & Tablets
- iPhone and iPad (iOS 11.0 and higher)
- Android Phones and Tablets
- Kindle Fire
Gaming Consoles
- PS4
- Xbox One
Virtual Reality
- Samsung Gear VR
- Oculus Go
- Oculus Rift
- Google Daydream
- HTC Vive
- PlayStation VR
- Windows Mixed Reality
- Magic Leap One
Connected Devices
- Roku 3+
- Apple TV 3+
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick
Why is NBA League Pass Blacked Out in the UK?
A lot of games are subject to blackouts in the US due to the fact that ESPN and ABC have the rights to most of the games.
Can I Access NBA League Pass via Kodi?
Unfortunately, there’s no official add-on for NBA League Pass on the Kodi platform.
Can I Watch NBA League Pass for Free?
NBA League Pass is premium, which means it requires a subscription. However, if you’re a new customer, you can benefit from a 7-day free trial.
How to Bypass NBA League Pass Blackouts – Parting Words
The upcoming NBA season will soon be upon us. Each team will play 82 games (41 at home and 41 away) during the regular season.
Now that’s a lot of basketball action. And the best way to follow it is through your NBA League Pass. However, since blackout restrictions still apply, you must use a VPN or Smart DNS proxy service to watch the local games live. Therefore, make sure you subscribe to premium brands so that you don’t miss out on any of the action.
The 2022/2023 season is expected to be one of the most competitive seasons ever. All teams have been busy strengthening their squads, so predicting a winner might be a bit challenging.
Have you ever tried to bypass blackouts using a VPN or Smart DNS? Tell us all about it in the comment section below.
