• Loading stock data...
Sunday, June 15, 2025

NBA Draft Ratings Stay Strong Despite Lack of Star Power

  • France had a native drafted No. 1 overall in back-to-back years.
  • The NBA split the draft into two nights for the first time. 
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

No Wemby, no problem. 

Despite a lack of star power at the top of the 2024 NBA draft, this year’s ratings surpassed last year’s two-round broadcast.

According to Sports Media Watch, the first round of the draft, which aired Wednesday, averaged 4.4 million viewers across ABC and ESPN, peaking at 5.5 million. It’s an 18% increase from the 2023 draft, which averaged 3.7 million viewers. 

But context is key: 4.9 million viewers watched the first round of the 2023 draft, per SMW, before many tuned out for the second round. 

The old format of the draft would extend into early Friday morning while Wednesday’s first round concluded shortly after 11:15 p.m., an hour earlier than before. 

The 2023 draft was highlighted by the Spurs’ drafting Victor Wembanyama first overall. The 7-foot-4 French center was the most-hyped prospect since the drafting of LeBron James 20 years earlier. This year it was another Frenchman going first overall in Zaccharie Risacher, but he didn’t have a fraction of the hype Wembanyama did going into the draft. 

With the NBA splitting the draft into two days, it will be interesting to see what the ratings were for Thursday’s second round, given the lack of precedent and factors working against it. The second round’s start time was moved out of Thursday prime time to 4 p.m. to accommodate the presidential debate later that evening. While the first round didn’t have the star power of 2023, the second round saw the selection of Bronny James, the eldest son of LeBron, 55th overall to the Lakers, putting them one step closer to being the league’s first active father-son duo. 

While not a perfect comparison, the second and third day of the 2024 NFL draft averaged 3.3 and 5.5 million reviewers, respectively, both roughly 33% decreases from the prior draft. It’s hard to see the NBA coming anywhere close to those numbers—among many other factors, NFL second-rounders routinely become stars, while NBA second-rounders often never appear in a single game.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.

Caitlin Clark Return Draws Sellout 15 Hours After Pacers Finals Game

Fever TV ratings dropped significantly while Clark was out.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

Thunder Win Sets Up First 6-Game NBA Finals in 4 Years

It will be the first Finals series of at least six games since 2022.

Featured Today

Jan 24, 2017; Davidson, NC, USA; The Davidson Wildcats student section cheers during the first half against the Duquesne Dukes at McKillop Court at John M. Belk Arena. Davidson defeated Duquesne 74-60.

Every College Wants a Flashy Basketball GM Hire Right Now

The role is more important than ever, and the definition is ever-evolving.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Goodyear blimp flies over Ohio Stadium during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game between the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
June 6, 2025

Why the Goodyear Blimp Is at Every Major Sports Event

The airship wasn’t built to cover sports. Now it’s a regular presence.
May 27, 2015; Paris, France; Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) knocks the clay off her shoe during her match against Simona Halep (ROU) on day four of the French Open at Roland Garros
June 4, 2025

Roland-Garros’s Iconic Red-Clay Surface Is a Precise Alchemy

The exact science behind maintaining the French Open’s red clay.
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
June 11, 2025

Adam Silver Opens Up on NBA Finals Ratings, Court Decals

Adam Silver appeared on ESPN’s pregame show.
June 12, 2025

NBA Finals Ratings Rise in Game 3, but Still Trail Recent Years

The Pacers lead the Thunder, 2–1, in the Finals.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
Jun 11, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of US Open signage on the 18th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club.
June 11, 2025

U.S. Open Still ‘Months Away’ From Signing New Media-Rights Deal

NBC’s contract with the USGA expires in 2026.
Aaron Boone
June 11, 2025

MLB’s Jomboy Deal Shows Full 180

Baseball had long fought creators or kept them at arm’s length.
June 10, 2025

French Open Ratings Up 25% in TNT’s First Year, Fueled by Finals

The men’s match peaked at 2.6 million viewers.
June 10, 2025

Disney’s Hulu Takeover Sets Stage for Deeper ESPN Integration

The ESPN parent company will pay $438.7 million to complete the transaction.