Pacers-Thunder Game 5 Draws 9.54M Viewers

[RealGM Wiretap]

Monday night's Game 5 between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder averaged 9.54 million viewers on ABC.

The number is a series high, though it remains down 22% from last year and is the least-watched Game 5 since the 2020 bubble. If not taking 2020 into account, it is the least watched Game 5 since 2003.

Game 5's viewership represents only a 1% increase from Game 4.

The 2025 NBA Finals are averaging 9.18 million viewers, down 19% from last year. 

Via Jon Lewis/Sports Media Watch

[Skipwhethers]

I know there have been a lot of justified criticisms of ESPN, the modern style of play, etc. But isn't the market size and popularity of the teams/players involved the main factor? The article cites that 2003 was the last time ratings were this low, and that championship series involved the Spurs and the Nets. Robinson, Duncan, and Kidd were not the most exciting stars for the casual viewer, and really neither are SGA, J-Dub, Haliburton, and Siakam.