This season, NBA viewership on ESPN platforms is up five percent from the same time last year, according to Nielsen. Through 34 games, NBA games on ESPN platforms are averaging 1,959,000 viewers.
Audience gains were driven by the five games on Christmas, which was ESPN’s most-watched NBA Christmas in five years, since 2019. An average of 5,335,000 viewers watched five games, spanning 13 consecutive hours. It was also virtually even with viewership from 2019 (5,337,000).
The audience for all five NBA Christmas games were up from their comparable games last Christmas. The Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors in primetime averaged 7,909,000 viewers, up 511 percent from last year’s Philadelphia vs. Miami game. The Lakers vs. Warriors broadcast peaked with 8,447,000 viewers at 10:30 p.m. ET.
