Which is the most watched NBA game of all time? A look at the TV ratings

At the highest levels of professional basketball, exciting games always attract a large audience. Especially in the US, NBA games consistently draw large television viewership. At their peak, an NBA game can attract millions of viewers simultaneously. In this article, basketscores.com answers the question: Which is the most-watched NBA game of all time?

Which is the most-watched NBA game of all time?

According to statistics, the most-watched NBA game of all time, based on US television data, is Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. The peak number recorded was 35.89 million concurrent viewers. Based on a viewership rating of 22.3, this means that for every 100 households with TVs in the US, more than 22 were watching this game.

The reason for this high viewership is that it was Michael Jordan's last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform. Fans worldwide were glued to their screens to witness the "Last Dance" of the Bulls era, and Michael Jordan did not disappoint. Jordan's iconic "Last Shot" sealed his sixth championship and his second three-peat.

Why hasn't this record been broken?

Although there are increasingly more ways to watch basketball, this number is almost unreachable. There are now many forms of entertainment (Netflix, YouTube, TikTok), so audience attention is more fragmented. Additionally, a large number of viewers now watch through unofficial platforms or social media, which are not included in official statistics.

Furthermore, it can be said that Michael Jordan's cultural appeal in 1998 was a unique phenomenon that even superstars like LeBron James or Stephen Curry would find difficult to replicate on traditional television.

What are the games with the highest viewership?

In addition to the Bulls vs. Jazz game, here are the games with the highest viewership in NBA history.

2. Bulls vs. Suns (Game 6) - 1993

Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns was one of the most captivating games, featuring a showdown between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. Chicago led comfortably after three quarters but unexpectedly struggled in the fourth quarter, scoring only 9 points for most of that period.

With only 3.9 seconds remaining and the Bulls trailing 98-97, the ball moved through Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and finally to John Paxson. He made a decisive three-pointer to give the Bulls a 100-98 lead. Horace Grant then made a crucial block in the final seconds against Kevin Johnson of the Suns, securing a narrow victory and the championship for the Bulls.

This also marked the Bulls' first three-peat and cemented Michael Jordan's legendary status with three consecutive Finals MVP awards.

3. Cavaliers vs. Warriors (Game 7) - 2016

This was the most-watched NBA game of the 21st century and the third most-watched of all time. Its appeal came from an “unbelievable” scenario: the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a comeback after trailing 3-1 in the series, something no team had ever done in NBA Finals history.

This game is remembered for three key moments in the final two minutes, when the score was tied 89-89. First was "The Block," when LeBron James sprinted back to block Andre Iguodala's layup. This is considered one of the greatest defensive plays in basketball history.

Second was "The Shot," when with 53 seconds remaining, Kyrie Irving made a difficult three-pointer over Stephen Curry, breaking a three-minute scoring drought. Finally, Kevin Love's "The Stop" involved defending Stephen Curry on the perimeter, forcing a miss and ending the Warriors' hopes.

LeBron James finished the series leading both teams in all five major statistical categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. He also fulfilled his promise to bring Cleveland its first championship in 52 years.

4. Bulls vs. Jazz (Game 5) - 1997

Another NBA Finals game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, this time in 1997. In Game 5, the series was tied 2-2, and the winner would take a crucial step toward the championship. In that game, Michael Jordan was suffering from illness and appeared unable to play.

Despite struggling physically, Jordan played 44 minutes, scoring 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Bulls eventually secured a dramatic 90-88 victory. After that, they returned to Chicago and finished the series in Game 6 to win their fifth championship, with Jordan once again earning the Finals MVP award. This game later became known as "The Flu Game" and attracted 31 million viewers.

5. Bulls vs. Jazz (Game 5) - 1998

The final game on this list is Game 5 of the 1998 Finals, just before the legendary Game 6. The Bulls led the series 3-1 and had a chance to clinch the title at home. However, contrary to expectations, they narrowly lost 81-83.

Michael Jordan was not the standout performer in this game and Karl Malone delivered an exceptional performance with 39 points and 9 rebounds under intense pressure from the Chicago crowd.

This Game 5 is considered the Bulls' farewell to their home fans in a Finals series. Despite being down 3-1, the Utah Jazz proved their quality by winning at the United Center. This game highlighted the intensity of the 1998 Finals and remains part of one of the greatest NBA series in history.

The most watched NBA game of all time

1. Bulls vs. Jazz (Game 6) - 1998 - 35.89 million

2. Bulls vs. Suns (Game 6) - 1993 - 32.10 million

3. Cavaliers vs. Warriors (Game 7) - 2016 - 31.02 million

4. Bulls vs. Jazz (Game 5) - 1997 - 31.00 million

5. Bulls vs. Jazz (Game 5) - 1998 - 30.60 million

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