The viewer numbers for the series represented a 22% overall increase in viewers over the previous seasons finals, and 12% on Game 6 of 2021, but is still a 24% drop on the pre-pandemic 2019 Game 6. In 2019, the average viewership was 15 million people across all games, leaving this year falling short.
Also to know is, is anybody watching the NBA?
Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch, reports that Game 1 drew a 6.3 average of 11.9 million viewers, topping only the previous two Finals, which were held at odd times of the year for the league because of the pandemic.
Thereof, are NBA Finals ratings down?
A more apt comparison for 2022 is 2019, the last “normal” season the NBA enjoyed, and in that respect the numbers are downright distressing. The latest NBA Finals were down nearly 18% from their 2019 equivalent, which didn’t feature a particularly stellar matchup by which 2022 would pale in comparison.