• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Warriors Play-In Win Opens Door for a Steph-LeBron Ratings Bonanza

The Warriors’ Play-in Tournament win on Tuesday opens the door to a second-round matchup with the Lakers.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a slight downtick in this year’s NBA regular-season ratings, the numbers showed the Lakers and Warriors—and their respective stars LeBron James and Steph Curry—remained the league’s best draw.

The most-watched game of the season was the Christmas Day game between the Warriors and Lakers, which drew 7.9 million viewers on ABC. It was also the league’s most-watched regular-season game in five years. 

The Jan. 25 meeting was also the second-most-watched non-Christmas Day game of the season (3 million), behind the March 8 game between the Lakers and Celtics, the league’s most storied rivalry. But the Jan. 25 game was missing some starpower—Luka Dončić and Jimmy Butler—All-Star midseason acquisitions of Los Angeles and Golden State, respectively. 

Some of the most-watched games exclusively on cable also included the Lakers. Their season opener against the Timberwolves, the NBA debut of Bronny James Jr., was the second-most-watched game on TNT this season. Excluding opening night games, Dončić’s first game against the Mavericks on Feb. 25 was the most-watched TNT game this year (2.5 million), while his return to Dallas on April 9 was the most-watched game on ESPN. 

Potential Semis Meeting

Golden State’s loss to the Clippers on Sunday shut the door on a potential first-round series against Los Angeles, but their Play-In Tournament win over the Grizzlies on Tuesday means both teams could meet in the second round.

The Lakers are favorites to beat the Timberwolves (-196), while the Warriors are favored over the Rockets (-188), according to FanDuel, despite not having home-court advantage.

A second-round series would do wonders for the NBA. The two teams battled in 2023, and averaged 7.8 million viewers, the most-watched semis in 27 years. It would also guarantee that either the Lakers or the Warriors would make the conference finals.

James, Curry, and Dončić were also the most-viewed players of the season on social media, respectively. The same three players had the most popular jerseys of the season, though Dončić led the way, followed by Curry, then James.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Stephen Curry celebrates after sinking the winning putt during the final round of the American Century Celebrity Championship golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Golf’s Hottest Celebrity Tournament Keeps Getting More Exclusive

The American Century Championship tees off at Lake Tahoe on Friday.
Oct 27, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of the Wells Fargo Center before game between Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

New Philly Arena Will Redefine Home-Court Advantage, CEO Says

The forthcoming venue will arrive with plenty of ambition among its owners.

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Suns All In on Booker, Who Signs Record Extension Amidst Chaos

The Suns changed their head coach for the fourth time in four years.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
Bruce Meyer and Tony Clark of the MLBPA

MLB, Players’ Union Spar Over Salary Cap As Labor Fight Looms

The MLB Players Association’s No. 2 executive outlines what he sees owners doing.
July 10, 2025

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
July 10, 2025

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.
Sponsored

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

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Crystal Palace FC
July 10, 2025

Crystal Palace’s Europa League Spot in Limbo After Lyon Wins Appeal

The ruling on Olympique Lyonnais was overturned this week on appeal.
July 9, 2025

U.K. Appoints New Soccer Regulator, EPL Matches Stay Behind Paywall

Men’s soccer in England will receive new levels of oversight.
July 9, 2025

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.
Jul 8, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC forward Pedro Neto (7) applauds fans after a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
July 9, 2025

Trump to Attend Club World Cup Final

Chelsea will face Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.