The 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs have become the most-watched Finals series since 1998, when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls secured their sixth and final championship in the "Last Dance" season.
Viewership Numbers
According to an ESPN report, the 2026 Finals averaged 20.6 million viewers, a 100 percent increase compared to last year's series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, which also went to a deciding Game 7. However, this year's viewership still falls short of the 1998 Finals, where Jordan's Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 4-2, averaging 29.04 million viewers per game, according to Sports Media Watch.
Historic Comparisons
While the Knicks-Spurs series did not surpass the Bulls-Jazz numbers, it did rank third all-time, overtaking the 2016 Finals where LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors. That series averaged 20.41 million viewers. The 2016 Finals featured a historic comeback by the Cavaliers from a 3-1 deficit to win their only championship.
It is worth noting that viewership numbers today include out-of-home viewing, such as on cellphones and other devices, which Nielsen now measures. Despite this, the 2026 Finals still rank among the most-watched in NBA history.
Memorable Moments
The series was also notable for the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump at Game 3, the first Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999. That game drew 23.8 million viewers. Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend an NBA Finals game in person.
