NBA Finals Set Record Low TV Ratings Despite Strong Youth and Social Media Engagement

The 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder, both from smaller TV markets, recorded historically low Game 1 TV ratings with an average of 8.91 million viewers, the lowest since 1988 excluding pandemic years. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed concerns about the ratings, emphasizing that market size is less relevant today due to technological advances and global growth, and criticized the media's focus on ratings over the quality of basketball and fan engagement, which included a record 500 million social media views during Game 1. Silver also compared the Finals matchup to the NFL's Super Bowl, pointing out that smaller-market teams like the Packers and Steelers are widely celebrated in football, highlighting the NBA's goal to create a national habit around watching the Finals regardless of the teams involved. Despite the ratings dip, Silver dismissed conspiracy theories about the NBA draft lottery and stressed the league's commitment to showcasing top-tier basketball and fostering fan appreciation. Critics argue, however, that comparing the NBA Finals to the NFL's dominant viewership and betting culture overlooks key differences in season structure and national interest. Overall, the NBA is navigating challenges in traditional TV viewership while seeing robust digital engagement and aiming to build broader national enthusiasm for its championship series.