NBA Finals television ratings

Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:12:27 PM Wikipedia source

This is a list of television ratings for NBA Finals in the United States, based on Nielsen viewing data. The highest rated and most watched NBA Finals series was the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, which averaged an 18.7 rating / 33 share and 29.04 million viewers on NBC. That series also featured the highest rated and most watched NBA Finals game, as the Sunday night averaged a 22.3 rating / 38 share and 35.89 million viewers. The 1987 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics was the highest rated and most watched NBA Finals series on CBS, averaging a 15.9 rating / 32 share and 24.12 million viewers. Game 7 of the 1988 NBA Finals registered the network's highest rated and most watched NBA game with a 21.2 rating / 37 share. The 2015 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers was the highest rated NBA Finals series on ABC averaging an 11.6 rating / 21 share and 19.94 million viewers. The 2017 NBA Finals featuring the same two teams was the most watched NBA Final series on ABC averaging an 11.3 rating / 22 share and 20.38 million viewers. Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals registered the network's highest rated and most watched NBA game with an average 15.8 rating / 29 share and 31.02 million viewers. It was the first basketball game to draw more than 30 million average viewers in 18 years, and only the seventh non-NFL sports telecast (excluding the Olympics) to have done so since 1998. The 2019 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors had a drop in American viewership however combined North American viewership. Analysts cited the presence of a Canadian team (Canadian viewership does not count towards U.S. Nielsen ratings, leading to only one U.S. home market being reflected in viewership), as a factor in the drop. At the same time, the presence of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals boosted Canadian viewership to record levels. For the 2020 NBA Finals, the ratings dropped to a historic low, with one of the games drawing only 5.1 million viewers. The average viewers figure over 6 games was 7.5 million, which is a 51% decline from the previous year. Some have claimed this was due to the players' political activism; others have claimed this was due to the finals being played out of season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as other sports such as the NHL playoffs and the MLB playoffs also showed a significant decline in ratings.

Tables

Key to colors · Game-by-game breakdown by year (1974–present)

	Most viewers for each Game (1 through 7) or Average
	Fewest viewers for each Game (1 through 7) or Average

· Game-by-game breakdown by year (1974–present)

1974

CBS

Role(s)

Boston Celtics 4,Milwaukee Bucks 3

Notes

13.5/32

1975

CBS

Role(s)

Golden State Warriors 4,Washington Bullets 0

Notes

10.1/28(11.38MViewers)

1976

CBS

Role(s)

Boston Celtics 4,Phoenix Suns 2

Notes

11.5/29

1977

CBS

Role(s)

Portland Trail Blazers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2

Notes

12.7/33

1978

CBS

Role(s)

Washington Bullets 4,Seattle SuperSonics 3

Notes

9.9/25

1979

CBS

Role(s)

Seattle SuperSonics 4,Washington Bullets 1

Notes

7.2/24

1980

CBS

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2

Notes

8.0/29

1981

CBS

Role(s)

Boston Celtics 4,Houston Rockets 2

Notes

6.7/27

1982

CBS

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2

Notes

13.0/28

1983

CBS

Role(s)

Philadelphia 76ers 4,Los Angeles Lakers 0

Notes

12.3/26

1984

CBS

Role(s)

Boston Celtics 4,Los Angeles Lakers 3

Notes

12.1/26

1985

CBS

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Boston Celtics 2

Notes

13.5/30

1986

CBS

Role(s)

Boston Celtics 4,Houston Rockets 2

Notes

14.1/31(14.43MHouseholds)

1987

CBS

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Boston Celtics 2

Notes

15.9/32(24.12MViewers)

1988

CBS

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Detroit Pistons 3

Notes

15.4/31(21.70MViewers)

1989

CBS

Role(s)

Detroit Pistons 4,Los Angeles Lakers 0

Notes

15.1/30(21.26MViewers)

1990

CBS

Role(s)

Detroit Pistons 4,Portland Trail Blazers 1

Notes

12.3/25(17.19MViewers)

1991

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Los Angeles Lakers 1

Notes

15.8/34(23.91MViewers)

1992

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Portland Trail Blazers 2

Notes

14.2/27(20.84MViewers)

1993

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Phoenix Suns 2

Notes

17.9/33(27.21MViewers)

1994

NBC

Role(s)

Houston Rockets 4,New York Knicks 3

Notes

12.3/23(17.25MViewers)

1995

NBC

Role(s)

Houston Rockets 4,Orlando Magic 0

Notes

13.9/25(20.10MViewers)

1996

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Seattle SuperSonics 2

Notes

16.7/31(24.86MViewers)

1997

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Utah Jazz 2

Notes

16.8/30(25.59MViewers)

1998

NBC

Role(s)

Chicago Bulls 4,Utah Jazz 2

Notes

18.7/33(29.04MViewers)

1999

NBC

Role(s)

San Antonio Spurs 4,New York Knicks 1

Notes

11.3/21(16.01MViewers)

2000

NBC

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Indiana Pacers 2

Notes

11.6/21(17.40MViewers)

2001

NBC

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 1

Notes

12.1/23(19.00MViewers)

2002

NBC

Role(s)

Los Angeles Lakers 4,New Jersey Nets 0

Notes

10.2/19(15.68MViewers)

2003

Year	Network	Results	Avg	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3	Game 4	Game 5	Game 6	Game 7
2025	ABC	Oklahoma City Thunder 4, Indiana Pacers 3	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)
2024	ABC	Boston Celtics 4, Dallas Mavericks 1	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2023	ABC	Denver Nuggets 4, Miami Heat 1	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2022	ABC	Golden State Warriors 4, Boston Celtics 2	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2021	ABC	Milwaukee Bucks 4, Phoenix Suns 2	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2020	ABC	Los Angeles Lakers 4, Miami Heat 2	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2019	ABC	Toronto Raptors 4, Golden State Warriors 2	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2018	ABC	Golden State Warriors 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 0	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	M Viewers)	No Game
2017	ABC	Golden State Warriors 4, Cleveland Cavaliers 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2016	ABC	Cleveland Cavaliers 4,Golden State Warriors 3	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	Mviewers)
2015	ABC	Golden State Warriors 4,Cleveland Cavaliers 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2014	ABC	San Antonio Spurs 4,Miami Heat 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2013	ABC	Miami Heat 4,San Antonio Spurs 3	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)
2012	ABC	Miami Heat 4,Oklahoma City Thunder 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2011	ABC	Dallas Mavericks 4,Miami Heat 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2010	ABC	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Boston Celtics 3	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)
2009	ABC	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Orlando Magic 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2008	ABC	Boston Celtics 4,Los Angeles Lakers 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2007	ABC	San Antonio Spurs 4,Cleveland Cavaliers 0	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2006	ABC	Miami Heat 4,Dallas Mavericks 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2005	ABC	San Antonio Spurs 4,Detroit Pistons 3	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)
2004	ABC	Detroit Pistons 4,Los Angeles Lakers 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2003	ABC	San Antonio Spurs 4,New Jersey Nets 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2002	NBC	Los Angeles Lakers 4,New Jersey Nets 0	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2001	NBC	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
2000	NBC	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Indiana Pacers 2	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1999	NBC	San Antonio Spurs 4,New York Knicks 1	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
1998	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Utah Jazz 2	MViewers)	MViewers)	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MViewers)	MViewers)	No Game
1997	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Utah Jazz 2	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1996	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Seattle SuperSonics 2	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1995	NBC	Houston Rockets 4,Orlando Magic 0	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1994	NBC	Houston Rockets 4,New York Knicks 3	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	coverage affected by O.J. Simpson's Bronco Chase)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)
1993	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Phoenix Suns 2	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MViewers)	No Game
1992	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Portland Trail Blazers 2	MViewers)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1991	NBC	Chicago Bulls 4,Los Angeles Lakers 1	MViewers)	12.6	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	MHouseholds)	No Game
1990	CBS	Detroit Pistons 4,Portland Trail Blazers 1	MViewers)	11.8	12.2	10.8	13.4	13.2	No Game
1989	CBS	Detroit Pistons 4,Los Angeles Lakers 0	MViewers)	14.0	15.6	13.2	17.4	No Game
1988	CBS	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Detroit Pistons 3	MViewers)	13.9	14.8	12.0	14.8	16.1	14.4	21.2/37
1987	CBS	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Boston Celtics 2	MViewers)	13.8	14.6	11.9	18.9	18.9	17.3	No Game
1986	CBS	Boston Celtics 4,Houston Rockets 2	MHouseholds)	9.9	14.8	13.4	15.4	16.9	14.2	No Game
1985	CBS	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Boston Celtics 2	13.5/30	---	14.3	---	17.0	15.3	15.3	No Game
1984	CBS	Boston Celtics 4,Los Angeles Lakers 3	12.1/26	---	12.3	---	13.1	12.1	---	19.3
1983	CBS	Philadelphia 76ers 4,Los Angeles Lakers 0	12.3/26	---	12.9/23	---	---	No Game
1982	CBS	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2	13.0/28
1981	CBS	Boston Celtics 4,Houston Rockets 2	6.7/27
1980	CBS	Los Angeles Lakers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2	8.0/29
1979	CBS	Seattle SuperSonics 4,Washington Bullets 1	7.2/24
1978	CBS	Washington Bullets 4,Seattle SuperSonics 3	9.9/25
1977	CBS	Portland Trail Blazers 4,Philadelphia 76ers 2	12.7/33

NBA Finals television ratings

Tables

References