The NBA has plenty to celebrate in its 75th season.
According to the league, viewership across ABC, ESPN, and TNT increased by 19% from the 2020-21 season. The 1.6 million viewers are the league’s highest average since 2018-19.
The league boasts other significant numbers in other media resources.
- NBA League Pass subscribers increased by 30% from last season.
- Social media platforms garnered 13 billion video plays — a 7% increase from 2020-21.
- Rating should jump during the play-in tournament (Apr. 12-15).
- Last year, the Lakers-Warriors play-in generated the most viewers (5.6M) for an ESPN telecast since the 2019 Western Conference Finals.
Of course, several factors in the upswing are related to the pandemic.
Arenas were back to 100% capacity, and the league had its first 82-game schedule since the 2018-19 season.
With the play-in beginning on Tuesday night and the playoffs on Saturday, expect those numbers to skyrocket even more.
![[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor inside the stadium before the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field.](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/USATSI_26465842_168416386_lowres-scaled.jpg?quality=100&w=1024)
![[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 13, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC midfielder Cole Palmer (10) celebrates winning the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium](https://frontofficesports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/USATSI_26636703-scaled-e1770932227605.jpg?quality=100&w=1024)
