You're sitting there, scrolling through Twitter or checking the box scores, and you realize you're missing the best part of the season. The Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder are actually fighting for the top seeds, which sounds like a fever dream, but it's 2026 and here we are. You want to watch. But then you see the standard price tag for a full season and your wallet starts sweating.
Stop.
Seriously, if you are paying the "sticker price" for out-of-market games right now, you’re basically donating money to the league office. There is almost always an NBA League Pass promotion floating around that cuts the cost by half or more, especially once we hit the mid-season stretch in January.
The Mid-Season Price Drop Is Real
Honestly, the best-kept secret in sports streaming is the January pivot. Right around now—mid-January 2026—the NBA typically slashes prices for the remainder of the season because, let's face it, half the games are already in the books.
As of this week, the standalone U.S. League Pass Premium has plummeted to roughly $74.99, down about 55% from the original starting price. If you don't care about the "Premium" bells and whistles (like watching on multiple devices at once or losing the commercials), the Standard package is sitting at $49.99. For those of you up in Canada, the prices are a bit higher—about $92.99 for Premium and $64.99 for Standard—but still significantly cheaper than what fans were paying in October.
It’s a massive discount. It makes that "is it worth it?" internal debate much easier to win.
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The DraftKings "9-Month Free" Loophole
If you’re into a little bit of wagering, there is a promo running right now that feels like a glitch in the system. DraftKings is currently offering a 9-month free subscription to NBA League Pass.
Yeah, you read that right. Nine months.
Basically, you have to opt-in through their app, place a $5 Same Game Parlay (SGP) with at least three legs and odds of +200 or longer, and once that bet settles, they email you a code. This specific nba league pass promotion is active through January 25, 2026. If you're a new customer, they usually stack this with a "Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets" offer. Even if you aren't a big gambler, putting five bucks on a parlay to save $100+ on streaming is just smart math.
Student and Military Discounts
If you’re a student, stop looking for promo codes on sketchy websites. You’ve already got the best deal.
The NBA offers a consistent 40% discount for students verified through UNiDAYS. This applies to the monthly rate, bringing it down to about $9.99 a month. It’s available for both undergraduate and graduate students in a ton of countries—the US, Canada, UK, Brazil, you name it.
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Military members and first responders aren't left out either. Through a site called GOVX, you can often snag a specialized NBA League Pass promotion that mirrors the student savings. It usually requires a quick identity verification, but once you're in, the savings are locked for the season.
What Most People Get Wrong About Blackouts
I get this question all the time: "If I get the promotion, can I finally watch my home team?"
No.
The most frustrating part of League Pass—and the reason people leave 1-star reviews—is the blackout policy. If a game is on your local Bally Sports (or whatever they're calling the RSNs these days) or a national network like ESPN or TNT, it will be blacked out on League Pass until three days later.
A discount code doesn't change the law of the land. If you live in New York and want to watch the Knicks, League Pass is not for you unless you're using a VPN to make the NBA think you're in Seattle.
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The YouTube TV and Prime Video Integration
If you already use YouTube TV or Amazon Prime Video, don't buy League Pass through the NBA app. Buy it as an "add-on" through your existing provider.
Why? Because the interface is a million times better.
YouTube TV is actually launching a new "Sports Plan" in early 2026 that bundles several services together. Usually, these platforms offer a 7-day free trial which is a great way to test your internet speed before committing. There’s nothing worse than paying for a season of basketball only to realize your Wi-Fi can't handle a 4K stream of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander driving to the hoop.
Is It Actually Worth It?
If you only follow one team and you live in their city, the answer is a hard "No." You’re better off with a cable sub or a local streaming package.
However, if you’re a fantasy basketball junkie or a "LeBron-stanner" who follows a player regardless of the jersey, the mid-season NBA League Pass promotion is the only way to go. You get access to NBA TV (which is normally an extra cost), every out-of-market game, and the ability to watch condensed replays that strip out all the free throws and timeouts.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check DraftKings first: If you’re in a legal betting state, the $5 parlay for 9 months of free access is the best value currently available until Jan 25.
- Verify your student status: If you have an ".edu" email, go to the NBA’s official student page and link your UNiDAYS account for the 40% monthly discount.
- Use the 7-day trial: If you’re on the fence, sign up via Amazon Prime Video for the week-long trial to see if the "Standard" vs "Premium" quality difference actually matters to you.
- Wait for the All-Star Break: If you miss the current January window, another massive price drop usually happens right after the All-Star Game in February.