The NBA scores big again on Christmas: US broadcast figures

The NBA celebrated a record-breaking Christmas, achieving its best television ratings in fifteen years. Over 47 million Americans watched the five-game slate on ABC and ESPN, a massive 45% surge from last year. Averaging 5.5 million viewers per game, a 4% rise, numbers were bolstered by the Cleveland versus New York clash.

Drawing 6.4 million, it became the most-watched noon Eastern game in history. San Antonio versus Oklahoma City and Dallas against Golden State also excelled, setting viewership peaks for their slots since 2017 and 2019. The league’s dominance extended digitally, ranking as the top brand while generating 1.6 billion social media views. This represents a significant 23% increase over Christmas 2024, proving the NBA remains an unstoppable force across both traditional broadcasts and modern digital platforms during the holidays.