NBA Finals Game Three Achieves Highest TV Ratings Since 1998

The NBA Finals Game Three on June 8, 2026, drew an average of 23.79 million viewers, marking the largest audience for a Game Three in nearly 30 years. The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111, with an additional 1.1 million viewers tuning in for an alternate telecast on ESPN. The last time a Game Three had more viewers was in 1998, during the Michael Jordan era, when the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz. The game peaked at 26.3 million viewers during the final moments. Overall, the NBA Finals are averaging about 19.1 million viewers across the first three games, second only to the 2017 Finals. This year's Finals are attracting more than double the viewership compared to the 2025 series, which featured teams from smaller media markets. Game Four is scheduled for June 10 in New York, with Game Five on June 12 in San Antonio.