The 2025 NBA Finals have seen a sharp drop in viewership, raising questions about the league’s reach despite high-profile performances and competitive play.
Game 2 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers averaged just 8.76 million viewers on ABC, according to Nielsen data shared by Sports Media Watch and Front Office Sports.
It was the least-watched Game 2 of the Finals since 2020, when the Lakers and Heat met in the Orlando bubble and drew 7.54 million viewers.
Excluding that pandemic-affected year, this year’s Game 2 marked the lowest audience since 2007, when the Spurs faced the Cavaliers and attracted 8.55 million viewers.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the numbers on Wednesday, pointing to the broader television landscape.
“People compare us to 20 years ago,” Silver said. “Games 1 and 2 so far are the highest-rated programs in May and June so far on television. And if something beats us, it will be another sports program. Back 20 years ago, we often didn’t win the night when the Finals were on.”
Despite Silver’s framing, the ratings represent a nearly 30% drop compared to 2024’s Finals, which saw 12.3 million viewers for Game 2 between the Celtics and Mavericks.
The 2021 matchup between Milwaukee and Phoenix also outperformed this year’s contest, drawing 9.38 million for Game 2.
Sunday’s game featured a dominant showing by the Thunder, who evened the series with a 123-107 win. The one-sided nature of the game may have hurt its second-half viewership.
The Thunder built a double-digit lead in the second quarter and never looked back, limiting late-game drama.
Market size is also a factor. Both Oklahoma City and Indiana are among the NBA’s smallest media markets. The Pacers are appearing in their first Finals since 2000, while the Thunder are back in the championship round for the first time in 13 years.
