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Run a free NBA prediction league with your friends
BeTeam is a free app for running a private NBA prediction league with friends: everyone predicts game scores, points come from calling the winner and the margin, and a live leaderboard tracks the whole season. There is no money involved. The 2026-27 season tips off on Tuesday, October 20 — set up your league before opening night.
Start your NBA league — freeNo group yet? Join the public NBA league and play against other fans.
Quick definition: an NBA prediction league is a group game where members forecast game results before tip-off and earn points for accuracy. It's not betting — no money, no odds, no payouts. The prize is the leaderboard and bragging rights among people you know.
Scoring that actually works for basketball
Predicting an exact NBA score is nearly impossible — so winner-only picks get boring and exact-score rules feel random. BeTeam's basketball scoring asks for the winner and the margin — the way serious basketball predictors score it — with the exact score kept as a rare jackpot:
| Your prediction | Points |
|---|---|
| Exact score | 10 |
| Right winner and the right margin band (1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20 or 21+ points) | 3 |
| Right winner, margin in a different band | 1 |
Predictions lock at tip-off, points calculate automatically from real results, and playoff rounds can escalate so the Finals are worth the most — the full rulebook is here.
Why groups use BeTeam for the NBA
- 82 games, zero admin. The schedule imports automatically and the leaderboard updates live during games — nobody maintains a spreadsheet through a whole NBA season.
- Private and friends-first. Only the people you invite — your group chat, your office, your family — with the trash talk built in next to the standings.
- No money — ever. Points only. Safe for work, school, and family.
- The whole calendar in one app. Run an NFL pick'em pool and soccer leagues (Premier League, Champions League) beside the NBA one — full competition list.
BeTeam vs other NBA pick'em options
There are a few ways to play NBA picks with other people. They are built for different things — BeTeam is built for private groups that want to follow the whole season together:
| Option | Free | Private group of friends | Regular season (not just playoffs) | Predict the margin or score | Real money involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeTeam | Yes | Yes — private leagues joined by invite link | Yes — regular season and playoffs | Yes — you predict the score; points come from the winner and the margin | No |
| ESPN | Yes | — | No — a Playoff Challenge bracket and a daily Streak game | — | No |
| The NBA's own picks game | — | No — solo, 21+ only | — | No — daily stat questions | — |
| RunYourPool | Free for small groups | Yes — web-based | Yes — weekly pick'em (5 games a week by default) | No — pick winners, straight-up or against the spread | — |
| A spreadsheet | Yes | Yes | Yes, if someone keeps it up | Any rule you like — scored by hand | Up to the group |
Based on each option's public description as of October 2026. "—" means we could not confirm it.
Set it up before opening night (5 minutes)
- Download BeTeam on the App Store or Google Play — free.
- Create a league and pick the NBA. The schedule loads automatically.
- Share one link in the group chat. Everyone predicts opening night on October 20, and BeTeam keeps score to the Finals.
2026-27 NBA key dates
- Opening night: Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- NBA Cup: group nights from October 30 to November 27, knockouts from December 4, final on December 11. Cup group games are regular-season games, so they are already on your league's schedule.
- Regular season ends: April 11, 2027 — then the play-in and the playoffs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free app for an NBA prediction league with friends?
BeTeam is a free iOS and Android app built for private NBA prediction leagues. You create a league, pick the NBA, and invite friends with one link. Everyone predicts game scores before tip-off, predictions lock when the game starts, and the leaderboard updates itself across the season. It is built for a group of friends rather than a public contest, and there is no money involved.
How does scoring work for NBA predictions when exact scores are so hard?
BeTeam scores basketball on the winner and the margin: 3 points for the right winner with the margin in the right band (1–5, 6–10, 11–15, 16–20 or 21+ points), 1 point for the right winner otherwise, and 10 points for the exact score as a rare jackpot. Nobody has to nail 112-108 exactly to score — but sharper predictions always earn more.
Is there a public NBA league I can join?
Yes. Besides private leagues, a free public NBA league runs in the BeTeam app, and anyone can join it from beteamapp.com/join/I3YK0FZ6. It is a good way to play if your friends are not on BeTeam yet — you can still start your own private league at any time.
Can I run it as an office pool?
Yes. An NBA league on BeTeam works as an office pool: it is free, with no entry fee, no money staked, and no payouts — points and a leaderboard only — so it does not turn into workplace gambling. Share one invite link in the team chat; if your office wants a prize, award it outside the app.
When does the 2026-27 NBA season start?
Opening night is Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and the regular season runs to April 11, 2027. The NBA Cup group stage starts October 30, with the final on December 11. Set up your league before October 20 so everyone predicts from the first game.
Is an NBA prediction league gambling?
Not on BeTeam. Nobody stakes money — members compete for points and the leaderboard. No entry fees, no odds, no payouts, which makes it safe for offices, classrooms, and family groups.
Can the same group also predict the NFL or soccer?
Yes. The same group can run an NBA league, an NFL pick'em pool, and soccer leagues (Premier League, Champions League) side by side in BeTeam — each with scoring rules built for that sport. One app covers the whole sports calendar.
No group yet? Join the public NBA league.
