For the first time since 2016, the NBA Finals had a Game 7, which brought good dividends to the ABC network, as the 103-91 victory that gave the title to the Thunder over the Pacers, attracted 16.3 million viewers in the United States, according to preliminary rating data provided by the company Nielsen.
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This audience represents the most-watched Finals game since 2019 (Toronto vs Golden State) and marks a relief for the network, which had been facing low numbers during the previous six games.
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The peak moment of viewership occurred between 9:45 and 10:00 pm (Eastern time), with 19.28 million people tuning in, just as Oklahoma City secured the championship.
A series that failed to maintain the interest of the audience
Despite the success in Game 7, the overall average of the series failed to meet expectations. This year’s Finals averaged 10.2 million viewers on ABC and ESPN+, ranking as the third least-viewed edition since the year 2000 (excluding those of 2020 and 2021, affected by the pandemic and outside the usual month of June), according to data from The Hollywood Reporter.
Only the 2003 Finals (Spurs vs. Nets) and 2007 Finals (Spurs vs. Cavaliers) recorded lower averages, with 9.8 and 9.2 million respectively.
Another relevant piece of information is that the six games prior to the Sunday finale did not surpass the 10 million viewers mark, on average. Even the seventh game of these Finals became the least watched of its kind since Nielsen began measuring in 1988. The previous lowest record for a Game 7 was 19 million in 2005 to watch the Spurs’ 81-74 victory against the Pistons.
The main reason for explaining the low ratings has to do with the fact that both Oklahoma City and Indianapolis are considered small markets within the NBA ecosystem.
In addition, the Thunder and the Pacers were ranked 11th and 16th, respectively, in terms of appearances on national broadcasts during the 2024-2025 regular season, including those by NBA TV. This lower visibility compared to franchises with greater media reach, such as the Lakers, Celtics, or Warriors, may have also influenced the casual audience not closely following this year’s Finals.