When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
How to Watch NBA Draft Lottery Online Without Cable: Live Stream Today
Last updated July 7, 2021
With the NBA season on at full speed, and the playoffs not that far off in the future, the draft lottery is an exciting event to look forward to. So, if you're looking for a way to watch the NBA Draft Lottery online, we know just how you can get your wish.
The Draft Lottery will see 14 participating teams that did not qualify for the postseason. In 2019, for the first time, the Lottery will see four winners instead of three. The team that finished with the worst win-loss records has the best odds to get the first pick in the draft, and if there are two teams with the same record, they split their odds.
The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled to take place on the 14th of May, The drawing actually happens in private, while being observed by independent auditors and representatives from each team. But, the results are presented in a short ceremony during halftime of an NBA playoff game.
The fact that the actual draw isn't televised has drawn quite a bit of criticism because the NBA is suspected of fixing the draft lottery to benefit the league. The whole thing started back in 1985 and hasn't really died down ever since.
The results of the Draft will be aired over on ESPN at 8:30 PM ET, which means you have plenty of ways to watch it online. Until then, you can read more about the way the NBA Draft Lottery works on the NBA's own website.
How to Watch NBA Draft Lottery Online?
Live TV platforms and streaming services are increasingly popular, which is great because you get a lot of freedom to watch whatever you want, wherever you want. One of the limitations you get, however, is given by the US borders. More specifically, all these streaming services are geoblocked, which means you can only access them if you're within the United States. The way they know your location is by reading your IP address, which is a great thing. Why do you ask? Because IPs are super easy to change and you only need to subscribe to a VPN service to get this done in about two seconds flat. Let's see what options you have.
- First, you need to make sure that you get a great VPN. We've reviewed dozens of these tools over the years and we can safely recommend you one of the best, called ExpressVPN. Visit ExpressVPN, subscribe to the service and download the app.
- Once that's done, you need to make sure to install it on your device and to log into your account.
- Go ahead and search for a US-based server and connect to it. Don't worry! There's are dozens of those in there.
- When the connection is established, you can load the live TV platform you want to watch on, such as SlingTV.
How to Watch NBA Draft Lottery Without Cable?
We use the Internet for everything from socializing with our friends to ordering food, to watching cool TV shows. Well, it makes sense to also watch TV online since live TV platforms are cheaper than cable is and you can quit the service whenever you feel like it since there are no contracts to tie you down. These platforms will also give you the freedom to watch your shows and events wherever you are when they start airing since all you need is a smartphone and an Internet connection. Let's see what options you have.
1. Sling TV
Up next we have Sling TV, a streaming service that can be customized to a T, so you get exactly the type of channels you want. There are three bundles to start off with, namely Orange ($25/mo), Blue ($25/mo), and Orange + Blue ($40/mo). It's also possible to add extra channel packs for $5 or $10 per month, as well as premium networks we know you'll love. The best part is that you can mix and match however you see fit. The TNT channel can be found in all three bundles on Sling TV, while ESPN is only present in Orange + Blue. NBA TV is accessible via the Sports Extra channel pack. This one costs $5 for Orange subscribers and $10 for Blue and Orange + Blue subscribers.
Sling TV doesn't offer any cloud DVR space for free to its subscribers, but you can pay $5 per month for 50 hours of storage space. Multi-screen streaming is also possible for subscribers, but things get a little weird here. That's because the Orange bundle only comes with one screen, while the Blue bundle comes with three simultaneous streams. The Orange + Blue bundle offers subscribers the chance to watch on four screens simultaneously. Make sure to read our Sling TV review to get the full story.
2. Hulu
Another option is picking the live TV plan offered by Hulu, which is pretty awesome. On top of getting access to dozens of channels, subscribers can also watch the full video-on-demand library - all for $44.99 per month. Those who want more can add one of the two extra channel packs available on Hulu, as well as any of the four premium networks available - Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, and Starz. On Hulu, you'll find plenty of channels that broadcast the NBA playoffs - ABC, TNT, and ESPN. There's no NBA TV, however.
On Hulu, subscribers get the opportunity to record up to 50 hours of shows to the cloud, but it's always possible to expand to 200 hours if you'll pay $14.99 per month. Hulu with Live TV comes with two simultaneous streams, but paying another $14.99 per month will get you the "unlimited screens" option, which enables users to watch content on however many devices they want on the home network, and three while out and about. Make sure to read TechNadu's Hulu review to get all the details you need.
3. YouTube TV
Further on, we reach YouTube TV, which features a single bundle of channels. For $49.99 per month, YouTube TV subscribers get access to dozens of networks covering a wide range of interests, as well as some great perks. It's also possible to add premium channels, such as AMC Premiere, or Showtime.
The list of channels presented by YouTube TV features everything you need to watch the NBA Draft Lottery - ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV. So, no matter which channel will actually broadcast the playoff game that will include the NBA Draft Lottery, you're good to go.
YouTube TV offers some great perks to users, including unlimited cloud DVR with the recordings expiring after nine months. The platform also allows three simultaneous streams at no extra cost, which is more than we've seen in most similar services. We have a YouTube TV review if you want to get the full rundown of what the platform has to offer.
4. DirecTV Now
We also have DirecTV Now on the list, which is a platform that has lost a bit of its shine due to a massive price hike, but that continues to be quite versatile. There are seven bundles to choose from here. Two of them were added recently, namely Plus and Max, while the other five - Entertainment, Choice, Xtra, Ultimate, and Optimo Mas - are a lot older, but recently got a new name and a new price. You'll find that ESPN is present in most bundles, only missing out from Optimo Mas, where ESPN Deportes takes its place. If you want to customize the service further, you'll need to add any of the two packs featuring Spanish channels, the three international packs, or the premium networks.
This particular service offers users 20 hours of cloud DVR storage space, with no possibility to extend the limit. Users can also enjoy streaming to two devices simultaneously, with a third being available for $5 per month. Read our DirecTV Now review for more details.
5. PlayStation Vue
Over on PlayStation Vue, there are quite a few things you can do to customize your subscription. For starters, you have to pick one of four bundles - Access ($44.99/mo), Core ($49.99/mo), Elite ($59.99/mo), and Ultra ($79.99/mo). You may also add premium networks or interest-based channel packs. The channels that have broadcasting rights for the NBA games are featured by PlayStation Vue. For instance, TNT, ABC, and ESPN are present in all four bundles. NBA TV, however, can be found in Core, Elite, and Ultra. Ultimately, you'll have to pick the one you like best, either for the channels they feature or for the price.
PlayStation Vue subscribers get access to some pretty cool perks. For instance, the cloud DVR feature has a 500-program limit, although the recordings expire after a month. It' also possible to watch content on up to five devices at once, which is the highest number we've seen, especially since you don't have to pay anything extra for this. Something unique for PlayStation Vue is the fact that you can watch three programs at once on the same screen. Read TechNadu's PlayStation Vue review for all the details you need.
The NBA Draft Lottery is an interesting part of the NBA season, and we hope we've made it easier for you to watch it, no matter where you may be. Let us know which platform you chose in the end and why you picked that one over the others. Please share the article online if you have the time, and visit TechNadu on Facebook and Twitter.
