NBA's TV viewership up 32%, highest since 2010-2011 season

Michael Singer | USA TODAY

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Whether it was this summer’s unprecedented player movement or the NBA’s abundance of intriguing story lines, the league's television ratings are up substantially from last season.

Between ESPN, TNT and NBA TV, the league’s viewership is up 32% this season and averaging 1.4 million viewers according to Nielsen, the highest start to the season since the 2010-2011 campaign. That was also LeBron James’ first year in Miami.

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Last week’s Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game was ESPN's most watched regular season game (3.2 million) since Christmas of 2016. TNT’s opening night broadcast between the Cleveland Cavs and Boston Celtics, while ultimately marred by Gordon Hayward’s injury, was still the second-most watched season-opening telecast in the network’s history with an average of 5.6 million viewers.

It doesn’t hurt that the New York Knicks are a playoff contender with a budding MVP candidate, the Philadelphia 76ers are finally healthy and flourishing and the Los Angeles Lakers are playing well enough to be a legitimate free agent destination.

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