Has NBA fought off NFL's Christmas Day invasion? Viewership up for hoops Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM 0 For the NBA, Christmas Day in 2025 was a resounding success — at least in terms of viewership. Across the fivegame slate on the Disney networks, 47.19 million unique viewers tuned in, making it the mostwatched Christmas Day since 2010 and representing a 45% yearoveryear increase, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. These data exclude 2011, when a lockout prompted the start of the regular season to fall on Dec. 25.
- - Has NBA fought off NFL's Christmas Day invasion? Viewership up for hoops
Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY December 31, 2025 at 8:35 PM
0
For the NBA, Christmas Day in 2025 was a resounding success — at least in terms of viewership.
Across the five-game slate on the Disney networks, 47.19 million unique viewers tuned in, making it the most-watched Christmas Day since 2010 and representing a 45% year-over-year increase, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. These data exclude 2011, when a lockout prompted the start of the regular season to fall on Dec. 25.
Interestingly, Christmas Day viewership may also be hinting at a general changing of the guard. The first two games of the slate — Knicks vs. Cavaliers and Thunder vs. Spurs — were the ones with the highest viewership.
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/OFG7mMJ class=caas-img data-headline="Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents" data-caption="
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
">Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
" src=https://ift.tt/OFG7mMJ class=caas-img>
1 / 8Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponentsOct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
Knicks-Cavs averaged 6.37 million viewers, making it the most-watched 12 p.m. ET Christmas game in history. Thunder-Spurs averaged 6.71 million, making that the most-viewed second game since 2017.
The league made an impact on social media, as well. According to Videocites, the NBA generated more than 1.6 billion views across social platforms, making it the brand with most views on Christmas.
This is notable, given that the NFL has also laid claim to the holiday, broadcasting Christmas games over the past two years. NFL remains king in broadcast viewership, but this year's games proved to be significantly inconsequential, with injuries marring the matchups, which mostly featured teams already eliminated or in danger of elimination from playoff contention.
The Knicks-Cavaliers game featured a late flurry from New York, which rallied back from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Cleveland, 126-124.
Dec. 25: The San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama dunks against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center.
The Thunder-Spurs game featured the latest iteration of an emerging rivalry in the NBA, one that features a pair of the game's most dynamic young stars in Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama and reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilegous-Alexander.
The other games on the 2025 Christmas slate were Warriors-Mavericks, Lakers-Rockets and Nuggets-Timberwolves.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA on Christmas Day TV ratings up as NFL invasion continues
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 01, 2026 at 06:27AM on Source: RON MAG
#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle