The hits keep coming for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
Not only did the event prove to be a critical disaster, but it took a hit commercially too. According to Sports Media Watch and as first reported by Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel, Sunday night’s exhibition drew an average of 4.718 million viewers across TNT/TBS/TruTV, marking a 13 percent from the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, which drew an average of 5.398 million viewers.
As Glasspiegel noted, the NBA All-Star Game’s double-digit drop is especially notable when factoring in Nielsen’s new measurement strategy, which has largely been favorable for high profile sporting events. Nielsen’s approach recently played a role in Fox being able to claim the most-watched Super Bowl in history, despite the game being an uncompetitive Philadelphia Eagles blowout victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Glasspiegel’s Front Office Sports colleague, Colin Salao, added that the figure marks the second-least watched NBA All-Star Game in the league’s history, barely beating out the 2023 event. Meanwhile, Sports Media Watch noted that it was the fourth most-watched NBA game of the season trailing three nationally televised Christmas Day games, and that the event was the highest rated show on all of television on Sunday night among viewers under the age of 35.
Even with the shift in Nielsen tracking, it’s not totally shocking that this year’s NBA All-Star Game rating would be down. In addition to the event’s recent trajectory, the mixed reaction to the new format and the late news that LeBron James wouldn’t be participating, this year’s game faced stiff competition with the Daytona 500 running late due to a weather delay and the highly anticipated Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special.
Conversely, TNT also didn’t do itself any favors with a broadcast featuring significantly more airtime for commercials than action. And despite the league’s best efforts, it’s clear that this new format didn’t click with viewers and it’s hardly shocking that revisions are already being considered.
The good news? Next year’s number should be up as the NBA All-Star Game moves to broadcast television on NBC. Then again, as this year’s number showed, it’s not always a sure thing that the league will benefit from its apparent built-in advantages when it comes to ratings.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.