NBA first-round viewership is down without the usual stars, but still up from 22

With Lebron James, Stephen Curry And Kevin Durant Combined with a single win and nine games total, viewership for the first round of the NBA playoffs last year unsurprisingly fell short.

The first round of the NBA Playoffs averaged a 1.7 rating and 3.14 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, TNT/truTV and NBA TV, representing a decline of 8% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (1.9, 3.44 million), but remained unchanged, 5% more than in 2022 (1.7, 2.99 million). This year's first round was only last year and 2018 (3.17 million) as the most-watched in the last decade, with the caveat that out-of-home viewing was not included in the Nielsen estimates until 2020.

Excluding games on NBA television, this year's averages of 1.9 and 3.50 million are down 9% and 10%, respectively, compared to last year (2.1, 3.91 million). Compared to 2022, ratings fell slightly, but viewership increased slightly from 3.49 million.

In the first round last year, James, Curry and Durant each won the competition series. The trio played a total of 19 first-round games, including a Game 7 for Curry's Warriors that neared the ten million mark. The three only played a total of nine games that year, with James' Lakers being eliminated in five games, Durant's Suns being defeated, and Curry's Warriors not even making the playoffs.

The first round ended Sunday with Magic-Cavaliers Game 7 at a 2.4 and 4.32 million on ABC – 17% lower ratings and 20% lower viewership than the Heat-Knicks in the same window last year (2.9, 5). .38 million). Outside of the 2020 “bubble,” Cleveland's win was the least-watched NBA Game 7 since Spurs-Nuggets on TNT in 2019 (3.49M), which is no surprise given the low profile of the participating teams.

Game 7 was still the most-watched sporting event on Sunday. ABC did not host the usual NBA playoff doubleheader because of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Miami, which set a viewership record with 3.1 million viewers, but still fell well short of the average for an NBA game on would have achieved late afternoon.

The NBA's apparent changing of the guard is showing early signs of resonating with viewers. Saturday's second-round Timberwolves-Nuggets Game 1 averaged a 2.4 and 4.93 million on TNT and truTV Saturday night, up 12% in ratings and 20% in viewership over the Suns-Nuggets last year (2.1, 4.10M), despite an earlier 7:00 p.m. ET start time that put the game in competition with the Kentucky Derby.

Each of Minnesota's first five playoff games increased compared to the corresponding time slots last year, with four straight posting double-digit increases. Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, undefeated in the postseason, emerge as favorites in the West.

Viewership of the first round of the NBA playoffs over the last 30 years