The NBA Slam Dunk Contest isn’t the only thing flying high for the pro-hoops league: National Basketball Association TV ratings enter All-Star Weekend up 15.4 percent from last season, per Nielsen.
Averaging 1.401 million total viewers combined on TNT, ABC, ESPN and NBA TV, the 2017-18 season is experiencing the NBA’s biggest audience in five years. Yeah, that’s a bit different than the NFL’s Nielsen trajectory.
The roundball league averaged 1.214 million total viewers per game last season. A ton of offseason moves, a record NBA Finals and more teams in contention have proven a boon from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Oh, and a little extra LeBron James (pictured above) drama never hurt.
This year’s NBA All-Star festivities will be held in Los Angeles, marking the exhibition weekend’s first return to Staples Center in seven years. Find a calendar of events here.
The actual NBA All-Star Game starts Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.