"There’s a culmination here of something that has been going on for a long time, so it’s super exciting. And it’s great to have had all this access to your team, and we’re gonna probably be shooting a little bit more during next season."
"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)."
"For years, ESPN has been criticized for what it wasn't doing. Not enough promotion. Not enough storytelling. Not enough attention paid to certain properties. Fair or unfair, those critiques have followed the network through multiple eras. But right now, those conversations feel very distant."
"This series has delivered classic battles and memorable moments. Viewers are better off with Legler behind the microphone helping bring them to life. He is at the top of his game, bringing the excitement to viewers one play after another."
"Game 3 averaged 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, a 159% jump from last year's Game 3. The audience peaked at 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET."
"Far too many were eager to mock a staged wrestling angle, a promotional appearance, or a calculated branding move that they overlooked what was actually happening."