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By Matt Audilet
Contributing Sports Writer
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The 2026 NBA Finals were full of intrigue, drawing in millions of viewers from around the world.
The New York Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought, notching the franchise's first NBA title since 1973 with a 4-1 series victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson out-dueled rising NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama, closing out the series with a 45-point performance in Game 5.
On Tuesday, just a few days after the Knicks clinched their title victory in San Antonio, ESPN announced some historic viewership numbers for the championship series.
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The 2026 NBA Finals were the most-watched Finals since 1998, when Michael Jordan claimed his sixth championship ring as the Chicago Bulls took down the Utah Jazz in six games.
Game 5 of this year's Finals drew an average of 24.5 million, with a peak of 33 million. Viewership increased 157% compared to last year's NBA Finals Game 5 matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
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The Knicks erased double-digit Spurs leads in each of their four NBA Finals wins. In Game 4, New York mounted the largest comeback in NBA Finals history — notching a 107-106 final score at Madison Square Garden after trailing by as many as 29 points.
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Brunson solidified his greatness as he led the Knicks to victory, averaging a stunning 32.6 points per game in the championship series.
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