Game 5 most-watched since 1998; peaked at 33M

Finals most-watched since '98; G5 peaked at 33MNew York Knicks55mLongtime Lakers P.A. announcer Tanter retiringLos Angeles Lakers2hDave McMenaminDolan asked for 10-week sacrifice in April speechNew York Knicks23hVincent GoodwillBulls buy into 'vision,' hire Splitter as head coachChicago Bulls1dShams CharaniaWizards' Sarr suffers fractured foot, has surgeryWashington Wizards1dOhm YoungmisukPeterson visits Wizards, won't meet other teamsWashington Wizards1dNFL, NBPA tell Congress they back college bill2hHeather Dinich'BING BONG': Bad Bunny, Dirk Nowitztki top reactions to Knicks' first NBA title since 1973New York Knicks3dESPNAll-NBA Playoff Awards: Which 10 stars made our first, second teams?

Oklahoma City Thunder2dZach KramLatest NBA buzz: Everything we're hearing ahead of the offseason, draft2hESPNUpdated NBA mock draft: Predicting all 60 picks one week from draft nightAtlanta Hawks1dJeremy WooSoundtrack of 72-10: The song that set the tone for MJ's BullsChicago Bulls11hJosh WeinfussVictor Wembanyama's time is coming -- it just wasn't nowSan Antonio Spurs3dBen GolliverThe Knicks are champions! 'It makes such a difference when people really want you'New York Knicks2dRamona ShelburneRoster lessons from the Knicks' title, and why there's no guarantee the Spurs will be backSan Antonio Spurs2dZach Kram'Every team has to go through a little chaos': How these Knicks attained legendary statusNew York Knicks3dVincent GoodwillGo New York Go: After a 53-year wait, the NBA title belongs to the KnicksNew York Knicks3dTim BontempsNBA futures: Runners-up one year, champions the next? Spurs early favorites for 2027New York Knicks2dDoug GreenbergAssociated PressMultiple AuthorsJun 16, 2026, 06:26 PM ETEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- The New York Knicks' 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night to capture their first NBA title in 53 years averaged 24.

5 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, making it the most-watched Game 5 since 1998.The audience peaked at 33 million, as Finals MVP Jalen Brunson was putting the wraps on a 45-point performance as the Knicks rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter.Overall, the Finals averaged 20.

6 million, according to Nielsen, the highest since ABC and ESPN started carrying it in 2003. It is only the third time since 1999 that the Finals have averaged at least 20 million.Golden State's victory over Cleveland in five games in 2017 averaged 20.

47 million, while the 2016 Finals, where the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors in seven games, averaged 20.2 million.Last year's Finals between Oklahoma City and Indiana averaged 10.

31 million across seven games.The 1998 series between Chicago and Utah, where Michael Jordan won his sixth and final NBA title, averaged 29.04 million in six games.

Finals most-watched since '98; G5 peaked at 33MNew York Knicks55mLongtime Lakers P.A. announcer Tanter retiringLos Angeles Lakers2hDave McMenaminDolan asked for 10-week sacrifice in April speechNew York Knicks23hVincent GoodwillBulls buy into 'vision,' hire Splitter as head coachChicago Bulls1dShams CharaniaWizards' Sarr suffers fractured foot, has surgeryWashington Wizards1dOhm YoungmisukPeterson visits Wizards, won't meet other teamsWashington Wizards1dNFL, NBPA tell Congress they back college bill2hHeather Dinich'BING BONG': Bad Bunny, Dirk Nowitztki top reactions to Knicks' first NBA title since 1973New York Knicks3dESPNAll-NBA Playoff Awards: Which 10 stars made our first, second teams?

Oklahoma City Thunder2dZach KramLatest NBA buzz: Everything we're hearing ahead of the offseason, draft2hESPNUpdated NBA mock draft: Predicting all 60 picks one week from draft nightAtlanta Hawks1dJeremy WooSoundtrack of 72-10: The song that set the tone for MJ's BullsChicago Bulls11hJosh WeinfussVictor Wembanyama's time is coming -- it just wasn't nowSan Antonio Spurs3dBen GolliverThe Knicks are champions! 'It makes such a difference when people really want you'New York Knicks2dRamona ShelburneRoster lessons from the Knicks' title, and why there's no guarantee the Spurs will be backSan Antonio Spurs2dZach Kram'Every team has to go through a little chaos': How these Knicks attained legendary statusNew York Knicks3dVincent GoodwillGo New York Go: After a 53-year wait, the NBA title belongs to the KnicksNew York Knicks3dTim BontempsNBA futures: Runners-up one year, champions the next? Spurs early favorites for 2027New York Knicks2dDoug Greenberg EmailPrintOpen Extended Reactions EmailPrintOpen Extended Reactions Open Extended Reactions