The 2026 NBA Finals between the victorious New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs was the most watched series this century.

The New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait for NBA glory after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the championship.

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks’ 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to capture their first NBA title in 53 years averaged 24.5 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, making…

The 2026 NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs drew the largest TV audience for any NBA Finals since 1998.

Across five games, ABC and ESPN averaged 20.6 million viewers.

The New York Knicks’ first championship-clinching win since the 1970s set a ratings record dating back to the 1990s.

Knicks in 5…and nearly 25 million viewers.

The Knicks’ win over the Spurs delivered the NBA's biggest championship audience since Michael Jordan’s last Bulls title in 1998.

Contributing factors included star power on and off the court, raucous fans inside and outside the arena and New York's gravitational pull.

The Knicks’ title win attracted huge audiences, helping the 2026 NBA Finals become the league’s most-watched championship series since 1998.

The 2026 NBA Finals between the victorious New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs was the most watched series this century.