San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks most watched NBA Finals since 1998

San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper dunks during game 2 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. Credit: Instagram / @Spurs

The five-game series pitting the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks was the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998, suggesting renewed interest in the league after years of declining viewership.

The 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20.6 million viewers, surpassing the 2017 Warriors-Cavaliers Finals and marking the highest Finals average since the 1998 Bulls-Jazz series, according to online publication Sports Media Watch.

Game 5 alone drew 24.54 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA game since the 2016 Cavaliers-Warriors Game 7. The series also doubled last year’s Thunder-Pacers Finals audience, which averaged 10.27 million viewers, the publication reported, citing Nielsen ratings.

Game 5’s strong viewership comes despite being moved from a traditional Sunday slot to a lower-viewership time on Saturday to avoid competing with the FIFA World Cup. The Finals also posted a 38.3 audience share, up 78% from last year and surpassing the long-standing 33.1 record set in 1993.

Fueled by celebrated teams and competitive storylines, the surge underscores a broader resurgence in NBA viewership as the league heads into next season with renewed momentum and increased fan interest across broadcast platforms.

Tags: