Spurs-Knicks Game 3 is the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years

Game 3 of the NBA Finals drew the largest television audience for a finals Game 3 in more than a quarter century, averaging 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN platforms and peaking at 26.3 million at 11:15 p.m. ET, according to figures released Wednesday.

The matchup, part of a tightly contested series between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, became the most-watched finals Game 3 since 1998, when the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in Michael Jordan’s final championship run with Chicago.

Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years (since Bulls/Jazz in 1998), averaging 23.8 million viewers on ABC and ESPN. The audience peaked with 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.

Game 4… pic.twitter.com/ollFW3O0nF

— NBA Communications (@ NBAPR) June 10, 2026

The audience marked a significant increase from recent finals broadcasts, underscoring a rebound in national interest for the league’s championship series. Viewership for Game 1 was up 90 percent over the 2025 finals opener.

The surge in viewership reflects the star-driven appeal of the series, headlined by Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, who have delivered one of the most compelling playoff duels in recent memory. Wembanyama’s global profile and Brunson’s rise as a marquee New York star have helped the series break through beyond traditional NBA audiences. President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend a finals game, taking in Game 3.

The league has leaned heavily into the matchup, which has consistently produced close finishes and late-game drama.

Through three games, the finals have been defined by razor-thin margins. The first three contests were decided by a combined 15 points, underscoring the competitive balance between the teams and helping fuel sustained national interest as the series has progressed.

Game 3 in particular continued that trend, keeping viewers engaged deep into the night and delivering a peak audience well past the 11 p.m. hour. The number represents a significant milestone for the league, which has spent years trying to rebuild finals viewership to levels last seen during the peak of the Jordan era.

The 1998 comparison carries symbolic weight for the NBA, as that finals series between the Bulls and Jazz remains one of the most iconic in league history, capped by Jordan’s title-winning shot over Bryon Russell in Game 6.

With the series still tightly contested and both teams trading narrow victories, the league is poised to continue benefiting from the momentum. If the trend holds, the finals could challenge additional long-standing viewership benchmarks as the matchup between Wembanyama’s Spurs and Brunson’s Knicks continues to draw national attention.