TV ratings: How many people watched the NBA Finals 2022?
Viewership for the NBA Finals was up on 2021, but still lagging behind pre-pandemic 2019 numbers, giving pause and hope to broadcasters in equal measure
The 2022 NBA Finals brought big numbers back to primetime, capturing 13.99 million viewers for Game 6, according to figures released today.
Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors brought star drawing power to the table, with fans tuning in to see big names like Klay Thompson and Draymond Green square off against the Celtics. Boston, for their part, have a large and zealously loyal fanbase of their own.
The @warriors are the 2021-22 NBA Champions! #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/ckNLJTdQ1C
— NBA (@NBA) June 17, 2022
The entire NBA Finals were expected to improve on last year’s numbers, but have not been as big as hoped for. 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.
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In 2019, the average viewership was 15 million people across all games, leaving this year falling short. But with the increase on audience over last year, the networks will be pleased that the trend seems to be upward, building back toward where it may have been had covid never happened.
From the final buzzer to the stage — all the emotions.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 18, 2022
NBA Champions. pic.twitter.com/2Q67CEi7nv
In any case, the Golden State Warriors don’t care. They are NBA champions and will be happy with that state of affairs, no matter how many millions watched.