The five-game series pitting the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks was the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998, suggesting renewed interest in the league after years of declining viewership.

The 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20. 6 million viewers, surpassing the 2017 Warriors-Cavaliers Finals and marking the highest Finals average since the 1998 Bulls-Jazz series, according to online publication Sports Media Watch.

Sign up Game 5 alone drew 24. 54 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA game since the 2016 Cavaliers-Warriors Game 7.