NBA Finals Ratings (1998-present)

UPDATED 2023: Below are the Nielsen ratings for the last 25 years of NBA Finals, back to 1998. Household (HH) ratings, 18-49 ratings, viewership, and M18-49 ratings have been provided for each year. The color-coding works exactly how it works in the World Series post with each metric compared against each other: i.e. all HH ratings are compared, and all 18-49 ratings are compared. The greener the chart, the better the ratings. Note: I've included both the undercount viewership and revised viewership for 2020 and 2021; this post will be updated if/when additional data is located and/or to add older years.

2023 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 1, 2023	ABC	6.02	3.72	5.02	11.587
June 4, 2023	ABC	6.02	3.73	4.84	11.910
June 7, 2023	ABC	6.01	3.43	4.61	11.237
June 9, 2023	ABC	5.36	3.23	4.21	10.414
June 12, 2023	ABC	6.97	3.98	5.29	13.084
Average		6.08	3.62	4.79	11.646
2022 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 2, 2022	ABC	6.39	3.80	5.01	11.903
June 5, 2022	ABC	6.17	3.71	4.83	11.911
June 8, 2022	ABC	6.24	3.65	4.83	11.522
June 10, 2022	ABC	6.16	3.64	4.75	12.063
June 13, 2022	ABC	7.00	3.99	5.27	13.025
June 16, 2022	ABC	7.47	4.32	5.63	13.992
Average		6.57	3.85	5.05	12.403
2021 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Undercount Viewers (millions)	Revised Viewers (millions)
July 6, 2021	ABC	4.53	2.86	3.74	8.558	8.697
July 8, 2021	ABC	5.14	3.13	4.08	9.381	9.590
July 11, 2021	ABC	4.73	2.79	3.62	9.019	9.246
July 14, 2021	ABC	5.34	3.47	4.74	10.255	10.464
July 17, 2021	ABC	4.83	3.05	3.94	9.617	10.018
July 20, 2021	ABC	6.61	4.27	5.63	12.517	12.778
Average		5.20	3.26	4.29	9.891	10.132
2020 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Undercount Viewers (millions)	Revised Viewers (millions)
September 30, 2020	ABC	4.06	2.91	3.9	7.413	7.689
October 2, 2020	ABC	3.58	2.42	3.2	6.609	6.780
October 4, 2020	ABC	3.14	2.24	2.9	5.935	6.076
October 6, 2020	ABC	4.37	2.87	3.9	7.540	7.696
October 9, 2020	ABC	4.76	3.21	4.1	8.890	9.192
October 11, 2020	ABC	4.17	3.21	4.1	8.291	8.590
Average		4.01	2.81	3.7	7.446	7.671
2019 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
May 30, 2019	ABC	7.90	4.82	6.6	13.382
June 2, 2019	ABC	8.04	4.81	6.5	13.955
June 5, 2019	ABC	7.82	4.70	5.9	13.348
June 7, 2019	ABC	7.60	4.41	5.5	13.037
June 10, 2019	ABC	10.64	6.71	8.6	18.601
June 13, 2019	ABC	10.74	6.59	8.2	18.764
Average		8.79	5.34	6.9	15.181
2018 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
May 31, 2018	ABC	10.0	6.50	8.1	17.354
June 3, 2018	ABC	10.31	6.69	8.3	18.471
June 6, 2018	ABC	10.4	6.46	8.2	17.852
June 8, 2018	ABC	9.3	5.46	6.6	16.242
Average		10.0	6.28	7.8	17.480
2017 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 1, 2017	ABC	10.5	6.9	8.83	18.698
June 4, 2017	ABC	10.66	7.1	8.97	19.686
June 7, 2017	ABC	11.3	7.2	9.17	20.048
June 9, 2017	ABC	10.7	6.8	8.39	19.013
June 12, 2017	ABC	13.5	9.0	11.27	24.466
Average		11.3	7.4	9.33	20.382
2016 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 2, 2016	ABC	11.1	7.3	9.1	19.197
June 5, 2016	ABC	9.8	6.5	8.1	17.489
June 8, 2016	ABC	9.7	6.1	7.7	16.465
June 10, 2016	ABC	9.8	6.0	7.6	16.567
June 13, 2016	ABC	11.8	7.6	9.4	20.528
June 16, 2016	ABC	11.8	7.7	9.5	20.702
June 19, 2016	ABC	15.8	11.3	13.8	31.018
Average		11.4	7.5	9.3	20.281
2015 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 4, 2015	ABC	10.6	6.92	9.0	17.768
June 7, 2015	ABC	10.8	7.4	9.4	19.168
June 9, 2015	ABC	11.1	7.34	9.4	18.773
June 11, 2015	ABC	11.7	7.60	9.6	19.844
June 14, 2015	ABC	11.8	7.6	9.5	20.860
June 16, 2015	ABC	13.4	8.92	11.1	23.254
Average		11.6	7.6	9.7	19.945
2014 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 5, 2014	ABC	9.0	6.01	7.8	14.846
June 8, 2014	ABC	9.0	5.96	7.5	15.131
June 10, 2014	ABC	9.0	5.94	7.5	14.775
June 12, 2014	ABC	9.3	5.99	7.6	14.964
June 15, 2014	ABC	10.3	6.79	8.6	17.999
Average		9.3	6.14	7.8	15.543
2013 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 6, 2013	ABC	8.8	5.69	7.4	14.241
June 9, 2013	ABC	8.5	5.82	7.6	14.571
June 11, 2013	ABC	8.5	5.76	7.3	14.045
June 13, 2013	ABC	10.0	6.73	8.5	16.228
June 16, 2013	ABC	9.5	6.32	8.1	16.267
June 18, 2013	ABC	12.3	8.48	10.5	20.636
June 20, 2013	ABC	15.3	10.62	13.0	26.319
Average		10.4	7.06	8.9	17.472
2012 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 12, 2012	ABC	9.9	6.86	8.8	16.195
June 14, 2012	ABC	10.4	7.10	9.2	16.670
June 17, 2012	ABC	8.8	6.51	8.3	15.549
June 19, 2012	ABC	10.5	7.45	9.5	17.445
June 21, 2012	ABC	10.9	7.63	9.5	18.461
Average		10.1	7.11	9.1	16.864
2011 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
May 31, 2011	ABC	9.0	6.50	8.9	15.171
June 2, 2011	ABC	9.3	6.46	8.5	15.522
June 5, 2011	ABC	9.1	6.12	8.2	15.338
June 7, 2011	ABC	9.6	6.74	8.8	16.126
June 9, 2011	ABC	10.8	7.45	9.7	18.318
June 12, 2011	ABC	13.3	9.65	12.7	23.880
Average		10.2	7.15	9.5	17.393
2010 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 3, 2010	ABC	8.6	5.69	7.5	14.088
June 6, 2010	ABC	9.2	6.45	8.3	15.718
June 8, 2010	ABC	9.6	6.65	8.6	15.969
June 10, 2010	ABC	9.9	6.62	8.5	16.371
June 13, 2010	ABC	10.8	7.17	9.2	18.654
June 15, 2010	ABC	10.4	7.13	9.1	17.690
June 17, 2010	ABC	15.6	11.43	14.0	28.203
Average		10.6	7.31	9.3	18.099
2009 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 4, 2009	ABC	7.8	5.4	7.1	13.042
June 7, 2009	ABC	8.2	5.8	7.8	14.061
June 9, 2009	ABC	8.6	5.9	7.4	14.196
June 11, 2009	ABC	9.4	6.4	8.3	15.957
June 14, 2009	ABC	8.0	5.7	7.1	14.171
Average		8.4	5.8	7.5	14.285
2008 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 5, 2008	ABC	8.7	5.4	7.1	13.384
June 8, 2008	ABC	8.5	5.5	7.2	13.499
June 10, 2008	ABC	9.2	6.0	7.8	14.509
June 12, 2008	ABC	8.7	5.6	7.1	13.762
June 15, 2008	ABC	10.2	7.3	9.3	17.394
June 17, 2008	ABC	10.7	6.9	8.7	16.879
Average		9.3	6.1	7.9	14.905
2007 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 7, 2007	ABC	6.3	3.7	5.1	9.206
June 10, 2007	ABC	5.6	3.4	4.5	8.551
June 12, 2007	ABC	6.4	3.8	4.9	9.492
June 14, 2007	ABC	6.5	4.0	5.2	9.908
Average		6.2	3.7	4.9	9.289
2006 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 8, 2006	ABC	7.8	4.8	6.5	11.514
June 11, 2006	ABC	8.0	5.3	6.7	12.410
June 13, 2006	ABC	8.0	5.1	6.5	12.246
June 15, 2006	ABC	7.8	4.6	6.1	11.561
June 18, 2006	ABC	9.1	5.9	7.6	14.318
June 20, 2006	ABC	10.1	6.5	8.2	15.710
Average		8.5	5.4	6.9	12.960
2005 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 9, 2005	ABC	7.2	4.4	5.9	10.569
June 12, 2005	ABC	6.9	4.5	6.1	10.662
June 14, 2005	ABC	7.2	4.5	5.8	10.633
June 16, 2005	ABC	7.2	4.4	5.8	10.917
June 19, 2005	ABC	8.4	5.3	7.1	13.091
June 21, 2005	ABC	8.8	5.3	7.1	13.471
June 23, 2005	ABC	11.9	7.6	9.8	18.997
Average		8.2	5.1	6.8	12.620
2004 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 6, 2004	ABC	9.8	7.0	9.0	15.360
June 8, 2004	ABC	10.7	7.0	9.2	16.129
June 10, 2004	ABC	10.5	7.0	8.5	16.219
June 13, 2004	ABC	12.7	9.1	11.5	20.295
June 15, 2004	ABC	13.8	9.4	11.9	21.843
Average		11.5	7.9	10.0	17.969
2003 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 4, 2003	ABC	6.4	4.0	5.1	9.604
June 6, 2003	ABC	5.2	3.3	4.4	8.058
June 8, 2003	ABC	7.0	4.4	6.1	10.756
June 11, 2003	ABC	6.6	4.2	5.9	9.659
June 13, 2003	ABC	6.2	3.8	5.0	9.308
June 15, 2003	ABC	7.5	5.0	6.7	11.570
Average		6.5	4.1	5.5	9.826
2002 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 5, 2002	NBC	10.6	6.9	8.8	16.209
June 7, 2002	NBC	9.1	5.8	7.3	14.046
June 9, 2002	NBC	10.2	6.9	8.5	15.850
June 12, 2002	NBC	10.8	7.3	9.1	16.560
Average		10.2	6.7	8.4	15.666
2001 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 6, 2001	NBC	12.4	8.8	10.5	18.577
June 8, 2001	NBC	11.6	8.5		18.719
June 10, 2001	NBC	12.7	9.5		20.280
June 13, 2001	NBC	12.6	9.0		19.972
June 15, 2001	NBC	11.2	7.3		17.356
Average		12.1	8.6		18.981
2000 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 7, 2000	NBC	10.5	6.6	8.3	15.339
June 9, 2000	NBC	9.9	6.4		14.969
June 11, 2000	NBC	10.7	7.3		16.366
June 14, 2000	NBC	13.1	8.2		18.941
June 16, 2000	NBC	10.0	6.7		15.568
June 19, 2000	NBC	14.7	10.0		22.397
Average		11.5	7.5		17.263
1999 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 16, 1999	NBC	11.5	7.5	9.3	16.57
June 18, 1999	NBC	9.6	6.1		13.98
June 21, 1999	NBC	12.1	7.6		17.01
June 23, 1999	NBC	12.0	7.4		16.76
June 25, 1999	NBC	11.0	6.9		15.53
Average		11.2	7.1		15.97
1998 NBA Finals
Date	Net	HH Rating	Adults 18-49	Men 18-49	Viewers (millions)
June 3, 1998	NBC	18.0	11.9	15.6	26.68
June 5, 1998	NBC	16.6	11.6		26.30
June 7, 1998	NBC	16.2	11.7		25.70
June 10, 1998	NBC	19.1	13.3		28.79
June 12, 1998	NBC	19.8	13.4		30.59
June 14, 1998	NBC	22.3	16.5		35.89
Average		18.7	13.1		28.99

Source: Nielsen Media Research via Sports Media Watch, ShowBuzzDaily, Programming Insider, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS Press Express, Media Life Magazine, Variety, ABC Press Releases, Television Bureau of Advertising