NBA playoffs ratings are not actually the highest in 33 years, as reported

Dan Dakich reacts to Adam Silver saying the NBA is considering expanding into Europe The NBA is touting the first round of the playoffs as the most-viewed since 1993. The league says the round is averaging 3.84 million viewers through 27 telecasts, up 7% from last year. NBA supporters are celebrating and asking OutKick for comment. History suggests Bill Simmons may soon mention me on his podcast while praising the league’s latest viewership averages. That said, we caution those getting too excited on the message boards. While the numbers the NBA is promoting are technically accurate, they are also misleading. For one, the year-over-year comparisons are invalid. The distribution has changed. This year, games air on ABC, NBC, ESPN and Prime Video. Previously, they aired on TNT, ESPN and ABC. The difference between games on a cable channel like TNT and those on a broadcast network like NBC is significant. LeBron James and Luka Doncic walk on the court during game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena on April 30, 2025. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Regional sports networks also no longer carry first