Breaking down the NBA MVP race and who's leading as the season winds to a close.
- The 2025-26 NBA regular season was the most-watched in 24 years, with viewership up 86% from the previous season.
- NBA games across various networks averaged 1.78 million viewers, the highest average in seven years.
- Total attendance reached over 22.18 million fans, marking a new league record for a three-season span.
The 2025-26 NBA regular season is officially in the books and it was one that was well-watched.
NBC Sports' NBA coverage began with a record-setting night with "NBA Tip-Off" on Oct. 21, marking the return of the nostalgic broadcast partner.
The season started with the first opening night double-overtime game in 20 years, a matchup between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder, who kicked things off with their championship ring ceremony.
It was the largest "NBA Tip-Off" doubleheader audience since 2010, not including 2011 opening games on Christmas holiday. The doubleheader maintained an average of 5.6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.
Here's a look at the season highlights for viewership, attendance, digital and social numbers during the 2025-26 NBA season:
NBA 2025-26 regular-season viewership
A total of 170 million people in the United States watched NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC, Peacock and NBA TV through the regular season.
It was the most-watched NBA season in 24 years. Viewership was up 86% compared to the 2024-25 regular season, according to the league.
NBA games across ABC, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, NBC and Peacock averaged 1.78 million viewers. It was the most in seven years and up 16% year-over-year. Including NBA TV, the league had the highest amount of viewership in 13 years and was up 35% year-over-year.
There were 57 telecasts that averaged at least two million viewers this season, the most since the 2011-12 regular season, and the league had 19 broadcasts that averaged at least three million viewers - the most since the 2012-13 regular season.
The regular season drove more than 920 million hours watched, the most since the 2011-12 season.
NBA on social media for 2025-26 season
The league generated a record 228 billion views on social media this season, up 13% over a year-to-year basis, according to Videocites.
The NBA debuted Tap to Watch, to allow fans to live stream games. According to a league news release, the new implementation drove fans to nearly 20 million live game streams with nationally televised games making up 75% of that engagement. Usage was driven largely by partners such as Google, social media platforms and the NBA App, the news release said.
NBA attendance for 2025-26 season
The NBA fans showed up in record numbers this season. A new league record was set for total attendance across a three-season span (2023-24 to 2025-26), exceeding 22.18 million fans in total attendance in team arenas for the third time ever.
Fun facts from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season
Here are some highlights from the 2025-26 NBA regular-season, according to the league: