12/27/2024
LeBron still the most popular player in the league hands down ๐ฏ
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry on Christmas Day was the most-watched NBA regular season game in 5 years.
The game hit a massive 7.76 million viewers, according to Nielsen. And peaked at 8.32 million.
For reference, last yearโs Christmas Day games averaged just 2.85 million viewers. And the ratings from this yearโs Golden State Warriors - Los Angeles Lakers game were up 499% from the Christmas game in the same slot last year (Sixers vs Heat).
Last year, all NBA Christmas games averaged just 2.85 million viewers.
This year? 5.25 million viewers - the NBAโs most-watched Christmas Day in 5 years.
But ratings overall have been down in the NBA.
Even Kevin Durant said postgame that the league is in a rough patch. And itโs on everyone - players, executives, GMs - to figure it out.
But a Christmas Day thriller with LeBron and Steph hit viewership numbers the league hadnโt seen in years.
And itโs a step in the right direction.