The NBA experienced its highest Christmas Day viewership in five years, with an average of 5.25 million viewers per game in the U.S. across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+, as reported by Nielsen Fast Nationals. This marked an 84% increase compared to last year when they were up against a triple-header from the NFL instead of just a doubleheader this year.
The game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, in which LeBron James and Stephen Curry faced off, drew the most viewers with an average of 7.76 million and a peak of 8.32 million at 10:30 p.m. ET. This game was the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in five years, showing a 499% increase from the comparable window last year.
Kicking off the day, the New York Knicks’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs garnered 4.91 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years and showing a 98% increase from the previous year. All five Christmas Day games saw a rise in viewership compared to last year, including the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (5.16 million viewers, up 3%), Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Dallas Mavericks (4.38 million viewers, up 6%), and Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (3.84 million viewers, up 161%). The Nuggets vs. Suns game set a record as the most-viewed late window game on Christmas Day.
