The thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NBA Finals delivered a significant jolt to the series’ television viewership. Game 7, pitting the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers, captured the attention of millions, providing the highest single-game rating in years and boosting the overall playoff numbers for ABC and ESPN.
However, the high viewership for the decisive final game also highlighted a striking paradox: while Sunday’s audience was a high point for this series, the 2025 Finals as a whole registered viewership figures among the lowest of the century.
NBA Finals Game 7 Delivers Six-Year Viewership High
The first Game 7 in an NBA Finals since 2016 proved to be a major draw. According to fast national figures from Nielsen, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers averaged 16.35 million viewers on ABC. This marked the most-watched NBA Finals game since 2019. Viewership peaked even higher, reaching 19.28 million between 9:45 and 10 p.m. ET as the game reached its dramatic conclusion. The game’s performance was so strong that it ranked as one of the most-watched broadcasts on all television since early May.
Boosting the NBA Playoffs Overall
The strong turnout for Game 7 had a positive ripple effect on the overall NBA playoffs broadcast on ABC and ESPN. The combined 35-game playoff slate across the two networks averaged 6.12 million viewers, representing a healthy 10 percent increase compared to the 2024 NBA playoffs. The presence of a compelling, winner-take-all Game 7 was crucial in lifting these figures and concluding the postseason on a high note for the broadcasters.
Despite Game 7 Surge, Overall Series Struggles
While Game 7 provided a much-needed boost, it couldn’t entirely rescue the 2025 NBA Finals from significant viewership challenges. The seven-game series averaged just 10.27 million viewers.
Adding context to the series’ struggles, data shows that the average viewership for the first five games was the worst for an NBA Finals in the Nielsen people meter era (since 1988), excluding the unusual 2020 “bubble” series. This figure places the 2025 Finals among the least-watched of the 21st century in the traditional June window, surpassing only the 2003 (9.86 million) and 2007 (9.29 million) Finals averages. Notably, none of the first six games of the series managed to break the 10 million-viewer threshold.
A Historic Low for a Game 7
Perhaps the most surprising statistic is that while Sunday’s game was the high point for this series, its 16.35 million viewers makes it the least-watched NBA Finals Game 7 on record. The previous lowest viewership for a Game 7 was 19 million viewers in 2005, illustrating the significant historical context of this year’s finale despite its relative success within the 2025 series itself.
Understanding the Viewership Factors
Several factors contributed to the relatively low overall series viewership despite the Game 7 surge. A primary reason cited is the market size and national profile of the competing teams. Oklahoma City and Indianapolis are considered two of the NBA’s smaller markets. Furthermore, the Thunder and Pacers ranked only 11th and 16th, respectively, in national television appearances during the 2024-25 regular season. This lower national exposure meant that casual fans were likely less familiar with these teams compared to perennial powerhouses or teams from larger media markets like the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics.
Beyond the specific matchup, the series viewership figures reflect a broader trend of fluctuating NBA ratings since 2019/2020. The league has faced challenges in consistently reaching the viewership heights seen in the 2010s. Data indicates the NBA has had difficulty producing a single game that clears the 14 million viewer mark this decade, a threshold reached by other major sports events. This comes amidst a general decline in linear television viewership, which disproportionately affects the NBA’s relatively younger audience demographic.
In conclusion, while Game 7 provided a crucial and successful boost, preventing the 2025 NBA Finals from hitting even lower historic ratings, the overall series numbers underscore the ongoing challenge for the league to consistently capture massive linear TV audiences outside of the most prominent teams and storylines.
References
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- www.sportsmediawatch.com
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