Watch NBA live streams with NBA League Pass

Although the NBA Finals are over, the world champion Golden State Warriors can’t get comfortable yet. Golden State, along with the league’s other 29 teams, will participate in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 23.

Auburn forward Jabari Smith, Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren, and Duke forward Paolo Banchero headline this year’s draft class. The Orlando Magic own the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 2004 and are widely expected to select one of those three atop the draft.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s NBA Draft.

How to stream the NBA Draft with a VPN

The first round of the Draft will air on ABC and ESPN at 8 p.m. EDT. The second round will air on ESPN only. You can stream the 2022 draft in just a few simple steps:

1. Get ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to a server location in the U.S.
3. Choose your preferred streaming platform to watch ABC or ESPN.
4. Tune in and enjoy!

Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Stream the NBA Draft using services with free trials

There are a number of cord-cutting services available that should cover your needs. They can be slightly pricey, but most offer free trials so you have ample opportunity to see if they’re worth it for you.

SlingTV

Price: 35 USD/month and up

Channels: ABC, ESPN

Although Sling TV does not offer ABC, those with Sling Orange or Sling Orange + Blue can watch the entire 2022 NBA Draft through ESPN. A 3-day free trial is available. A 3-day free trial is available.

Note: You will need a U.S. credit card or PayPal in order to subscribe.

YouTube TV

Price: 65 USD/month and up

Channels: ABC, ESPN

YouTube TV offers over 70 local channels, including ABC. A subscription costs 65 USD/month, and doesn’t require a U.S. billing address (though you may need to provide a U.S. ZIP code based on your preferred viewing area). The service includes a variety of sports channels and a 5-day free trial.

FuboTV

Price: 70 USD/month

Channels: ABC, ESPN

FuboTV is a fantastic, if pricey, option for streaming the 2022 NBA Draft. A 7-day free trial is available for those who don’t want to commit to a subscription.

What is the NBA Draft order?

Unlike previous years, only 58 players will be selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat each forfeited second-round picks in this year’s draft following tampering violations. As a result, the second round will only feature 28 selections rather than the normal 30.

Round 1:

Round 2:

Who are the top 2022 NBA Draft prospects?

Basketball fans should get closely acquainted with these names ahead of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue: Ivey could go as high as No. 1 in the 2022 NBA Draft, or he could tumble due to questions about his position fit. NBA analysts have openly wondered if the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Ivey will play point guard or shooting guard in the NBA.

Chet Holmgren, F/C, Gonzaga: Nearly 20 years ago, the Orlando Magic used the No. 1 overall pick on center Dwight Howard. Will the Magic repeat history by selecting the 7-foot, 195-pound Holmgren atop this year’s draft? Holmgren averaged 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, and hit 39% of his 3-point tries for Gonzaga last season.

Paolo Banchero, PF, Duke: The trendy word around Banchero is “safe” after the Duke standout provided 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a freshman. If he doesn’t go No. 1 overall, he’s unlikely to fall out of the top 3.

Jabari Smith, PF, Auburn: Smith could be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick after averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in his lone season at Auburn. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward has earned rave reviews for his charisma and energy.

Keegan Murray, PF, Iowa: Murray impressed at Iowa last season, contributing 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per night for the Hawkeyes. His 6-foot-8, 225-pound frame and strong shooting skills could make him a top-5 pick.

Shaedon Sharpe, SG, Kentucky: Although Sharpe enrolled early at Kentucky, he never played a game for the Wildcats in an attempt to stay healthy. His potential and size (6-foot-6, 200 pounds) should ensure Sharpe is selected within the first 10 picks, but he’ll enter the league with no shortage of questions given the lack of sample size.

AJ Griffin, SF, Duke: After a preseason knee injury limited Griffin early in his freshman campaign, he wound up averaging 10.4 points and shot 44.7% from 3-point range.

Jalen Duren, C, Memphis: A player like Duren, who stands 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, might have been the No. 1 overall pick 15 years ago. Although the league has evolved past old-school centers, Duren’s athleticism and interior presence could ensure he goes in the top 10.

Ousmane Dieng, SF, France: The 6-foot-9, 185-pound Dieng likely needs additional seasoning and development. A rebuilding team such as Houston or Oklahoma City—who probably won’t be competing for a playoff berth next season—should strongly consider adding him.

Benedict Mathurin, SG, Arizona: The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Mathurin averaged 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds as a sophomore last year and led Arizona to a Pac-12 championship. Don’t be surprised to see him join the Portland Trail Blazers, who desperately need a young guard to pair with star point guard Damian Lillard.

Who will go No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft?

Below are the most recent odds on who will be selected first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, according to Odds Shark.

How to stream the NBA with League Pass

The 2022 NBA Finals will exclusively air on ABC in the United States. We recommend the following streaming services, all of which offer free trials.

NBA League Pass

Price: 7 USD/season

Although the U.S. version of League Pass only offers replays, the international version includes live games and no blackouts. League Pass comes with a 7-day free trial.

NBA game blackouts: International League Pass vs. U.S. League Pass

What’s the difference between watching NBA League Pass in Germany, Australia, Canada, or the U.S.? League Pass is available both inside and outside the States. However, there are key differences every fan needs to know.

The U.S. League Pass offers live games and full-game replays for all teams. However, blackouts apply. When a team is playing, that game will be “blacked out” on the U.S. League Pass for the team’s home market. Nationally broadcast games on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV—in other words, most of the playoffs—will also be blacked out. (All blacked-out games are available three days after broadcast. If you purchased the 3-Game Choice package, nationally telecast games will be available for purchase three hours after they have aired. Locally telecast games will be available for purchase three days after they air.)

Want to tune in without having to worry about blackouts? The International League Pass also offers live games for all teams, but without a single blackout!

That’s because blackouts are put in place to protect local broadcasters’ viewership while preserving users’ ability to watch out-of-market games. If you’re streaming from a country outside the United States or Canada, every game is effectively “out-of-market,” meaning that there are no blackouts to worry about. If you only want to watch the games for a single team, select the “Team Choice” option to save some money!

How to cancel NBA League Pass

If you feel like you’re not getting value out of your subscription, cancelling it is not an arduous process. There’s actually a comprehensive guide on how to cancel. You should also be aware that the service auto-renews monthly—if you’re on a monthly subscription—or prior to the season if you’ve purchased an annual subscription. You can opt out of auto-renewals and you will be notified by email prior to getting auto-renewed for a full season.

Recapping the 2021-22 NBA season

The 2021-22 NBA season featured no shortage of intriguing storylines. Here were the most noteworthy events and incidents from the league’s 75th campaign:

Kyrie Irving’s one-man stand: The Brooklyn Nets envisioned the makings of a future dynasty when they partnered Irving with forward Kevin Durant in the summer of 2019. Instead, the most memorable part of Irving’s tenure in New York City thus far has been his stance on the COVID-19 vaccine. The 2011 No. 1 overall pick refused to get vaccinated, which prevented him from playing Nets home games early in the 2021-22 season because of New York’s vaccine rules. Although the Nets essentially kept Irving away from the team at first, the franchise later welcomed him back as a part-time player. Not that it mattered much—the Boston Celtics swept the Nets in the first round of the playoffs.

LeBron James and the Lakers hit rock bottom: Remember when the Lakers celebrated a 17th NBA Finals title in the Orlando bubble in October 2020? It’s been all downhill from there. Although James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists over 56 games this past season, the Lakers went a dismal 33-49 and missed the postseason for the second straight year. Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook didn’t fit in, All-Star big man Anthony Davis played only 40 games because of injuries, and LA wasted James’ age-37 season. Though Father Time may finally be catching up with The King, James is expected to return to the Lakers next season ahead of his 38th birthday.

We should never have trusted The Process: There is no disputing that Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is a superstar and one of the NBA’s premier talents. However, the 76ers’ decision to spend several years, including Embiid’s first few seasons, fielding weak rosters to attempt securing high draft picks doesn’t look wise in hindsight. The Sixers gave up on forward Ben Simmons, the 2016 draft’s No. 1 overall pick, and dealt him to Brooklyn for James Harden earlier this year. However, Philly didn’t make it out of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, falling in six games to Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat.

The new-look West: The Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs all spent much of the 2010s as legitimate title contenders. None reached the playoffs this year. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns have re-established themselves as a fearsome franchise for the first time since the Steve Nash era, and the once-lowly Minnesota Timberwolves made only their second playoff appearance since 2004.

Nikola Jokić is no joke: Did you know that every player who has won the NBA MVP Award and is eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has earned induction? Jokić has put himself on the Hall of Fame path, especially after averaging 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.5 steals across 74 games this season. The four-time All-Star won his second consecutive MVP Award and hit a career-high 58.3% of his shots. Not bad for a former second-round pick.

NBA offseason schedule and TV coverage

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