Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals averaged 24.5 million viewers on ABC. That peak climbed to 33 million as New York closed out its championship victory.
What We Know: The 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20.6 million viewers across five games, setting an ABC and ESPN audience record. ABC and ESPN also scored the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998 (average 29 million). That figure doubled last year’s seven-game series — a 100 percent increase. Game 5 alone was the most-watched NBA Finals game since 1998. Every night, ABC led all of television in key male and adult demos.
What The Data Shows: (all data via ESPN PR)
| Game # | Average Viewership | Peak Viewership |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.93 million | 19.63 million |
| 2 | 16.43 million | 19.42 million |
| 3 | 23.8 million | 26.3 million |
| 4 | 20.9 million | 23.2 million |
| 5 | 24.5 million | 33 million |
What Remains Unclear: No top market data was released with the final figures. In addition, no social or digital metrics were also released.
What It Means: This is a massive win for ABC and ESPN. Obviously having the top market in the country involved helps. However, the results are quite impressive. Along with a record setting Stanley Cup Final, the early summer has proved extremely positive to ESPN.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
