On Christmas Day, the NBA delivered its most-watched games in five years. According to the report, the league averaged 5.25 million viewers per game in the U.S. across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals. The viewership grew 84% from last year.
With a slate of five exciting games, NBA fans were treated to some incredible action.
The marquee matchup featured LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers’ thrilling 115-113 victory over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The game averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with 8.32 million viewers at 10:30 p.m. ET. It was “the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in five years and up 499% vs. the comparable window last year.”
Kicking off the day, the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs which averaged 4.91 million viewers. The game was the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years, up 98% from last year.
Each Christmas game, saw year-over-year viewership increases, including Philadelphia 76ers versus Boston Celtics (5.16 million viewers, up 3%), Minnesota Timberwolves versus Dallas Mavericks (4.38 million viewers, up 6%), and Denver Nuggets versusPhoenix Suns (3.84 million viewers, up 161%). Additionally, the Nuggets versus Suns was the most-watched late game in the history of the Christmas Day format.
The NBA also garnered more than 500 million video views across its social media platforms on Christmas Day which is a new record. The five-game schedule also attracted the most-viewed Christmas Day ever on NBA League Pass. NBA Christmas Day games were distributed in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages.
For the first time, the NBA faced competition from the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens bested the Houston Texans.
During halftime of the Ravens/Texans game, Beyoncé gave a thrilling performance of some of her hits from Cowboy Carter for the first time.
In a post-game interview, James spoke about how Christmas Day will always be the NBA’s territory.
“I love the NFL. I love the NFL,” James said. “But Christmas is our (NBA’s) day.”
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