NBA Finals Draw Lowest Ratings Since 2007 Despite Silver's Defense

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has addressed criticism regarding the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, focusing on low TV ratings and fan dissatisfaction with the broadcast presentation. The Finals have drawn historically low viewership numbers, with Game 1 recording the lowest rating for a Finals opener outside the COVID-19 seasons, and Game 2 being the second-least watched since 2007, partly due to the small market sizes involved. Silver explained the absence of physical on-court Finals logos, citing safety concerns, and noted that virtual logos were reintroduced to address fan complaints, although the quality of these graphics was still criticized. Despite the low national ratings, Silver highlighted strong local engagement in Oklahoma City and Indianapolis, and emphasized that the Finals remain among the highest-rated television programs in May and June, outperforming other programming. He acknowledged the challenges posed by an increasingly fragmented media landscape with many viewing options, stressing the need for innovation to attract more casual viewers and make the Finals a bigger event. The NBA also faces a tension between embracing nostalgia, such as on-court logos and references to historic eras, and focusing on the current state of the game to maintain fan enthusiasm.