The NBA playoffs have already had a lot of surprises and shocking wins.
They have also had a lot of viewers too.
The recent matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings produced monster numbers for the NBA.
NBA writer Mark Medina highlighted the fact that Game 7 of the Warriors-Kings series was the most-watched first-round game in 24 years, with an average of 9.8 million viewers.
Another example of Steph Curry’s gravity. Warriors-Kings Game 7 most-watched first-round game in 24 years at an average of 9.8 million viewers pic.twitter.com/pFuyurPn4q
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) May 2, 2023
At the peak of viewership, 11.9 million people tuned in to watch Stephen Curry and his Warriors eliminate the Kings.
This shows the star power that Curry and his squad still have even after being the biggest team in the league for years.
While the Kings are on the rise and generating a larger fanbase, they are still not a known commodity to some casual sports fans.
People were tuning in to see Curry and his team create blockbuster basketball – and they weren’t disappointed.
The playoffs have been hugely successful so far this year, with the league receiving its most-watched first round in nine years.
Overall, games are averaging 3.4 million viewers, up 15% from last year.
It’s clear that it’s not just Curry who is bringing the audience in.
With players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and more still in the postseason, millions of fans have many big-name options to choose from.
As more teams get eliminated, more viewers will show up.
This is nothing but good news for the association, which is currently figuring out what its presence on television and streaming services will look like in the future.
With numbers like these, it is obvious that fans are still eager to watch great basketball.
If the stars like Curry keep showing up, the fans will keep tuning in.
