The NBA continues to struggle with ratings amid a social justice campaign pushing pro-Black Lives Matter messaging.
Game 5 of the finals garnered 5.7 million total viewers on ABC, the Daily Caller reported. In 2019, Game 5 saw 18.22 million viewers.
“It’s truly shocking how bad the TV ratings have been for the NBA in the Finals this season. They’re not just bad,” a Daily Caller editorial stated. “They’re absolutely horrific, and there’s no other way to put it. We passed the point of embarrassment a long time ago.”
The drop in viewership has continued throughout the finals, with 7.41 million people watching Game 1, an average of 4.5 million viewers for Game 2, and an average of 4.395 million viewers for Game 3.
“A ship doesn’t sink for one reason, but undoubtedly, politics sit atop the historical tank,” OutKick reported when detailing the stats from Game 2. “After nearly two decades of reinventing the NBA discussion, LeBron is now a detriment to the league’s brand.”
Last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league will revisit the social justice messaging seen by players and teams this season.
“I would say, in terms of the messages you see on the court and our jerseys, this was an extraordinary moment in time when we began these discussions with the players and what we all lived through this summer,” Silver said in an interview. “My sense is there’ll be somewhat a return to normalcy, that those messages will largely be left to be delivered off the floor.”
“And I understand those people who are saying, ‘I’m on your side, but I want to watch a basketball game,’” Silver continued.
