There have been many great games in NBA history, but which ones have you watched the most? Of course, the NBA Finals, where the best of the best come together. Therefore, it is natural that during broadcasts, millions of viewers around the world turn to blue screens.
Here are 10 of the most played games in NBA history. The first number is the Nielsen rating, which is the percentage of total US households that watched the program. The approximate viewership was calculated based on the average rating of a particular game and the number of views.
10. Final match Lakers - Celtics 2010
15.6 million households, 28.2 million viewers
Two legendary NBA franchises, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, last played each other in the 2010 Finals.
Each of the seven matches was a real battle. Players from both teams played so tough that two - Ron Artest and Paul Pearce - received a technical warning already 30 seconds into the first match. The classic confrontation between the Lakers and the Celtics, which has lasted since the middle of the 20th century, has returned, giving fans of both teams a lot of emotions and memories.
In the decisive seventh match, the Lakers managed to snatch an 83:79 victory from Boston, taking the 16th title in club history. The series ended 4-3 in favor of the Lakers. Lakers' Kobe Bryant was voted Most Valuable Player in the NBA Finals.
9. Games 4th and 5th in the 1987 Lakers and Celtics finals
each game was watched by 18.9 million households, approximately 28.67 million viewers
The fourth match of the final series in '87 was the best of the two, as it featured many unforgettable events:
- The Lakers held 107-106, going ahead in the series 3-1.
- Larry Bird of the Celtics managed to snatch two points from Boston with 12 seconds remaining.
- The same Bird missed two seconds before the siren.
- There was a scuffle between Worthy and Kite.
- Boston's Magic Johnson was named Final Series MVP for the third time. He almost single-handedly pulled out the fourth match of the series, throwing the decisive "hook" over the heads of Parish and McHale.
8. Final NBA match between the Bulls and Utah Jazz 1998, 4th game
19.1 million households, approximately 29.66 million viewers
Michael Jordan's "Last Dance", as expected, generated unprecedented interest even from those with little interest in basketball. No one wanted to miss out on the greatest player of their generation.
In the previous match, the Bulls had just 54 points and a 2-1 lead, so everyone wanted to see if Karl Malone and John Stockton of Utah Jazz could win back. However, Jordan and Scotty Pippen were too good to be defeated.As a result, the Bulls won 90-88, winning the streak in six matches. And already in January 1999, Jordan retired for the second time as an NBA player.
7. 1988 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons, Game 7
21.2 million households, approximately 30 million viewers
One of the most popular NBA games of all time was the 1988 Finals, the Lakers' fifth and final Showtime, and a stellar period in the career of James Worthy. With 40-year-old Abdul-Jabbar no longer carrying the bulk of the team's scoring workload, Worthy took over.
Worthy earned the nickname "James the Big Game" for his 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists and allowed the team to win the Larry O'Brien Cup. He was voted the best player in the finals.
6. 1993 NBA Final Match, Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 4
19.8 million households, approximately 30.3 million viewers
The 1993 finals earned Phoenix Suns heavy forward Charles Barkley the MVP title against reigning champion Jordan. The Sans, with 62 wins, were the best team that season but lost both home games early in the final.
However, the team was able to get back into shape to win the third game, so fans were eagerly awaiting if they could handle the guests in the fourth game.
But alas, "Chicago" did not give "Sans" a chance to win, and even a two-point shot by Barkley was not enough.
Jordan has a record 55 playoff points, arguably the best result of his distinguished career. Against the background of such success, even Barkley, with his 32 points, seemed average.
5. 1998 NBA final match between the Bulls and Utah Jazz, game 5
19.8 million households, 30.6 million viewers
One of the most spectacular NBA matches in history was watched by over 30 million viewers. Fans who had hoped Jordan would show them a stellar swan song before leaving the Bulls saw something more: Utah heavy forward Carl Malone had his best playoff game to date.
However, according to the results of a series of six matches, the victory went to the Bulls, and in the last minutes of the sixth match the outcome of the game was determined by Michael Jordan. He scored a goal that earned the Bulls their 87-86 title.
4. 1997 NBA final match between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, game 5
20.1 million households, approximately 31 million viewers
Utah tied the score 2-2 after losing the first two games, so game five of the 1997 final was decisive. Meanwhile, Jordan caught a stomach flu (although there is a version that he was deliberately poisoned), and this could have ended in defeat for the Bulls in the final.
But in the end, Jordan's "flu game" became one of the best moments of his career. Having missed training on the eve of the match and barely reaching the field, he played more than 44 minutes and scored 38 points. The famous athlete nearly collapsed into Pippen's arms during a late game timeout and was visibly exhausted but couldn't afford to lose.
3. 2016 NBA Final between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, 7th leg
15.8 million households, 31.02 million viewers
Game 7 of the 2016 Finals is the most watched NBA game of the modern era. It was seen by over 31 million viewers, which is almost double the number of games 3 and 4.
LeBron James played two great games, gradually increasing popular belief that Cleveland could be the first team in NBA Finals history to win after a 3-1 gap. And so it happened, Cleveland finished the final 4-3 in their favor.
And LeBron James, the 2016 Finals Most Valuable Player, was named the third basketball player in League history to triple-double with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.
2. 1993 NBA Final Match, Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns, Game 6
20.3 million households, 32.1 million viewers
After the Suns unexpectedly won Game 5, many thought the Bulls were in trouble. Therefore, the sixth match was very intense. At first, Phoenix was doing well, but with 4 points, 2 minutes 20 seconds before the end of the game, they could not score a single point.
But by the end of the match, the Bulls played and demonstrated real teamwork. Jordan passed forward to Pippen, who found Grant in the paint, and then kicked the wide open Paxon on the wing to score a three with less than 4 seconds left.
1. 1998 NBA final match between the Bulls and Utah Jazz, game 6
22.3 million households, 35.89 million viewers
The most watched game in NBA history took place on June 14, 1998 between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz home team in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This match was the last game against the Bulls for Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson (both left the National Basketball Association and then returned).
After losing the fifth game in Chicago, Jordan needed to secure the Jazz victory in the sixth game and prevent Utah from playing confidently in the seventh game at home. The Jazz put in some good effort: Malone had 31 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, but Jordan played the best with 45 points.
He made a jump shot 5.2 seconds before the end of the game to bring the Bulls ahead with a score of 87–86. The game marked Jordan's last shot with the Bulls and his 25th win for Chicago.