Nba Game Viewership Record Statistics

In this post, we examine a series of intriguing statistics regarding NBA game viewership, ranging from historic highs to recent lows and notable milestones in between. From record-breaking finals to shifts in audience demographics, these numbers provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of NBA viewership over the years.

Statistic 1

"The most-watched NBA game in history was Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals on NBC, which drew approximately 35.9 million viewers."

Statistic 2

"The record for Game 7 viewership goes to the 2016 NBA Finals, which brought in an average of 30.8 million people."

Statistic 3

"In 2020, the NBA Finals averaged a mere 7.45 million viewers, the lowest in recorded history, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic."

Statistic 4

"The 2020 NBA Finals on ABC scored the lowest average television rating in finals history with a 2.06 rating."

Statistic 5

"Game 6 of the 2020 NBA Finals drew 8.29 million viewers, a 51% drop from 2019."

Statistic 6

"Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals had a total US audience of 13.31 million viewers."

Statistic 7

"The 2018 NBA Finals had the fourth largest audience in the history of the NBA finals, averaging 17.7 million viewers."

Statistic 8

"Michael Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ documentary series averaged 5.6 million viewers per episode, showing the enduring popularity of his era."

Statistic 9

"The 2001 NBA Finals, with Allen Iverson’s Philadelphia 76ers against Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers, averaged 22.5 million viewers."

Statistic 10

"The 1986 NBA Finals Game 3, featuring the Boston Celtics vs. Houston Rockets, achieved a very high rating of 17.9."

Statistic 11

"In 2021, for the very first time, India’s viewership of NBA went up by 74% with the advent of technology."

Statistic 12

"Michael Jordan's final game with the Chicago Bulls in the 1998 NBA Finals drew an estimated 72 million people, the highest for any NBA game."

Statistic 13

"Viewership for the 2021 NBA Finals increased by 32% compared to the 2020 Finals, bringing in an average of 9.91 million viewers per game."

Statistic 14

"The NBA Finals Game 7 2016, Cavaliers vs. Warriors, scored a 15.8 rating, with an overall reach of around 44 million viewers at peak."

Statistic 15

"The 2000 NBA Finals Game 6, Pacers vs. Lakers, drew a viewership of 24.2 million, making it one of the top-10 most-watched games in the NBA history."

Statistic 16

"In China, the NBA reportedly reached an estimated 490 million viewers in the 2018-19 season."

Statistic 17

"The NBA game viewership among Hispanics grew by 70% since 2003-04 season."

The landscape of NBA game viewership has seen highs and lows over the years, with notable peaks such as Michael Jordan’s final game in 1998 attracting a staggering 72 million viewers. However, recent trends have shown a decline in average viewership, notably in 2020 due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, although there have been some positive spikes such as the 2021 Finals witnessing a 32% increase compared to the previous year. The NBA’s global appeal is evident from statistics like the 490 million viewers in China during the 2018-19 season and the significant growth in Hispanic viewership since the early 2000s. The data underscore the dynamic nature of basketball fandom and the diverse audiences that the NBA continues to captivate.