Despite a less than stellar debut at the NBA Summer League, plenty of fans tuned in on television to watch the teenage French star take the floor for the San Antonio Spurs.
The game broadcast averaged 1.39 million viewers on ESPN, putting it second behind Zion Williamson’s debut in 2019 as the most-watched Summer League game on record. It peaked at 1.63 million.
The Spurs drafting Wemby first overall in last month’s draft has galvanized the fanbase, and that showed in Friday’s viewership numbers. Sports Media Watch reported that broadcast also averaged more viewers than the team’s only nationally-televised game last season.
The Spurs played the Hornets in that Friday night matchup. The game also outdrew Charlotte’s most-watched national TV game last season.
Wembanyama came into the NBA surrounded by hype. Whether he lives up to it in the long-term remains to be seen, but it is already paying off for ESPN. In addition to the success of Summer League, the network enjoyed record ratings for Draft Night last month when the Spurs selected the French star first overall.
