Star power: Viewership for Game 1 of NBA Finals up 90% over last year's series opener

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks averaged nearly 17 million viewers on Wednesday, June 4, representing a 90% increase over last year's Finals opener. The matchup, fueled by the star power of Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 1 since 2018, when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers faced Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. The 2018 series remains the last time viewership reached comparable levels.