Low Ratings, High Potential: The 2025 NBA Finals Between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder

The 2025 NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off with a classic Game 1, but it didn't prevent the ratings from taking a hit. The game averaged a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, making it the least-watched Game 1 since the league's COVID-19-fueled ratings nadir in 2020 and 2021, according to Sports Media Watch. The ratings decline was even more significant when compared to last year's NBA Finals opener, which featured the Boston Celtics facing the Dallas Mavericks. The decline would have been worse if it wasn't for Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers' furious comeback in the final minutes to stun the Thunder. Game 2 didn't fare much better, with the Thunder's blowout win drawing near-identical numbers to the opening game of the series. It averaged 8.76 million viewers on ABC, making it the least-watched Game 2 since 2007, excluding the COVID-19 bubble in 2020. Despite the low ratings, the game was a fun one to watch, with both teams putting up a great fight. The Pacers' win could aid ratings down the line, as many viewers might not have tuned in due to how lopsided the series was perceived to be. The Thunder opened as a -800 favorite to win their first title in OKC, the best odds since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. While ratings are down, the NBA extracts value from many other areas. The league just finalized $76 billion in television deals for the next 11 seasons, and its PR team pointed to some positives, such as the Game 1 broadcast reaching 11 million viewers by the time Haliburton made his game-winning shot with 0.3 seconds left. There was also strong viewership among the 18-to-34-year-old demographic and a record number of views on social media. The Thunder are still -575 favorites to win it all, but they aren't unstoppable. Many fans could be interested in either a comeback or one of the biggest upsets in NBA Finals history. So while the ratings may be down, the excitement and potential for a classic series is still very much alive.