NBA Finals Game 7 Draws 16.4 Million Viewers Amid Small-Market Concerns

The 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers saw a significant ratings rebound with Game 7 averaging 16.4 million viewers, the highest for a Finals game in six years. Despite the strong finish, the series overall struggled in viewership due to the absence of big-market teams and star power, compounded by Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton's early Achilles injury in Game 7, which likely suppressed peak ratings. The entire series averaged just over 10 million viewers, marking one of the lowest NBA Finals averages in recent years, though still above some past low-rated Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic MVP season was a highlight, but the lack of marquee matchups and star rivalries, once central to NBA Finals appeal, contributed to the modest audience. Commentary noted the decline in the NBA's mass appeal, contrasting the current Finals with the much higher viewership figures seen in previous years featuring major stars and larger markets. While the Finals' Game 7 drew more viewers than the Grammys and some NFL regional games, it still fell short of other major sporting event viewership benchmarks.