NBA Finals Viewership Soars to Highest Levels Since 1998
WHO:
NY Post - The New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs are the teams competing in the NBA Finals.
Newsweek - Anunoby is mentioned as a key player contributing to the Knicks' success.
WHAT:
NY Post - Game 4 of the NBA Finals averaged 20.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998.
RealGM Basketball - The 2026 NBA Finals are averaging 19.6 million viewers through four games, the most-watched since 1998.
RealGM Basketball - Game 4 viewership peaked at 23.2 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.
RealGM Basketball - Game 4 viewership rose 123% from the comparable game last year.
RealGM Basketball - The four-game average viewership is up 116% from last year's championship series.
RealGM Basketball - Game 3 drew 23.8 million viewers and peaked at 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.
RealGM Basketball - Wednesday's broadcast was the most-watched program of the day across all of television.
WHERE:
RealGM Basketball - The NBA Finals are being held in the United States.
WHEN:
RealGM Basketball - The NBA Finals are taking place in 2026.
RealGM Basketball - Game 4 occurred on June 10.
WHY:
Newsweek - The Knicks' historic comeback and celebrity presence contributed to the increased viewership.
HOW:
RealGM Basketball - Viewership statistics are based on Nielsen Big Data + Panel analysis.
(UPDATED June 13, 2026 01:44 UTC)
The New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs are currently facing off in the NBA Finals, with Anunoby being highlighted as a key player for the Knicks. Game 4 of the Finals drew an impressive average of 20.9 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched NBA Finals Game 4 since 1998, while overall viewership for the series has averaged 19.6 million across four games, also the highest since 1998. The surge in viewership can be attributed to the Knicks' historic comeback and the presence of celebrities, with Game 3 peaking at 26.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched program of the day across all of television.