Image Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

NBA Finals Viewership Dips to All-Time Low Despite Game 1 Drama, Opener Draws Just 8.91 Million Viewers

Thunder vs Pacers drama couldn't lift the NBA Finals ratings

Image Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The first NBA Finals game between the Indiana Pacers and the OKC Thunder proved to be one of the most thrilling games of the playoffs. It went down till the wire marking one of the greatest comebacks by any team setting the trend for the series further.

Early estimates reveal NBA Finals Game 1 drew a 4.7 rating with 8.91 million viewers on ABC, a figure considered historically low for the championship series. This remains the least watched finals opener since tracking began in 1988.

Reggie Miller and his family were hype watching Hali's game-winner 😬🔥

(Via @ReggieMillerTNT) pic.twitter.com/B8lZtAzqBT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 7, 2025

Many attributed the declining viewership to the matchup between two so-called small-market franchises competing for the championship. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver earlier addressed it and shared his frustration regarding the small market talking rather suggesting that fans celebrate the fixture.

The absence of legacy franchises in this year’s NBA Finals has noticeably impacted the ratings. The viewership was also not in healthy shape in 2020 and 2021 but that was primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with strong performances from both the Pacers and OKC Thunder, this year’s NBA Finals opener suffered a significant dip in viewership.

SGA’s Postgame Take Draws Sharp Criticism

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s post game comments drew flak from fans and analysts. Some suggested his response to the game result was too casual and unserious. SGA didn’t take the game result too seriously and suggested it was just another game.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “We just gotta treat it like any other game, every other situation we’ve been in. Yes, we haven’t been in this situation but it doesn’t mean our character has to change or what we did last time. It’s still basketball.”

To many, the tone failed to reflect the gravity of an NBA Finals matchup. Treating it as another game drew criticism. Shaquille O’Neal pushed back, asserting this wasn’t ‘just another game’, it was the NBA Finals, the league’s ultimate proving ground. Coming to the series cannot be taken lightly as it takes a season full of effort to reach there.