The NBA season reached its crescendo with the Oklahoma City Thunder capturing their first championship in franchise history, defeating the Indiana Pacers in a thrilling Game 7 finale.
The dramatic conclusion not only delivered compelling basketball but also provided a much-needed boost for league viewership.
According to Sports Media Watch, this series finale brought in the highest ratings for an NBA Finals game in six years.
Game 7 averaged 16.35 million viewers with a peak audience reaching 19.28 million, giving ESPN and the NBA genuine reasons for optimism.
“Fans were CAPTIVATED by Game 7 on Sunday,” Yahoo Sports captioned.
Fans were CAPTIVATED by Game 7 on Sunday 😳
(via @paulsen_smw) pic.twitter.com/LQEnrvcfql
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 23, 2025
The numbers tell an impressive story for a league that struggled with lower-than-usual ratings throughout the season.
The massive viewership stood in stark contrast to earlier games in the series, which saw notable ratings drops compared to last season’s Boston Celtics-Dallas Mavericks matchup.
Many analysts pointed to the obvious factor behind the fluctuation.
Matchups between two small-market teams rarely generate the same ratings buzz as big-market showdowns featuring major metropolitan areas.
However, the tightly contested nature of this Finals series kept fans engaged until the final buzzer, with anticipation for Game 7 drawing viewers eager to witness the conclusion.
The Thunder dominated throughout the regular season and playoffs, finally cementing their status as champions with this victory.
Their championship run validated years of patient roster building and strategic development.
Unfortunately, the celebration was dampened by a devastating injury to Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a non-contact injury just minutes into the game.
Haliburton now faces a lengthy recovery process, and his absence will significantly impact the Pacers’ offseason planning.
While Oklahoma City celebrated their historic achievement, Indiana was left contemplating difficult questions heading into the summer months.
