The NBA All-Star Game, an event that usually garners significant attention, saw a steep decline in viewership this year. With just 4.59 million viewers tuning in to watch Team Giannis beat Team LeBron 184-175, the event was the least-watched in history.
Despite cosmetic changes and tweaks to the format, interest in the annual event has been decreasing over the years, and this year’s efforts to boost attention were unsuccessful. The 2023 game averaged a combined 2.2 rating and 4.59 million viewers, a significant drop from the 2022 edition which had an average rating of 3.1 and 6.28 million viewers.
Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game was the lowest rated and least-watched edition of the game, per @paulsen_smw
• Ratings declined 29% and viewership 27% from last year’s All-Star Game
• The record-low audience places the NBA All-Star Game well behind this year’s NFL Pro Bowl
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 22, 2023
This year’s NBA All-Star Game saw the largest single-season decline since 2000, a troubling sign for the NBA’s slipping popularity. Adding to this concern is the fact that this year’s game drew fewer viewers than the 2022 MLB All-Star Game and the NFL’s new Pro Bowl Games.
The game did not feature the major stars fans were hoping to see, as many were either hurt or left early. It is unrealistic to expect a truly competitive showing from players who are looking ahead to the second half of their respective campaigns.
The game itself saw a lackluster performance from high-profile players who seemed to be giving only 60% of themselves if that. Team Giannis emerged victorious over Team LeBron, but Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, Team LeBron’s coach for the night, called it “the worst basketball game ever played.” Despite this, Joel Embiid and Kyrie Irving stood out for giving a little extra on the night.
In recent years, interest in the NBA All-Star Game has been decreasing, with this year’s game seeing a steep drop in viewership.
Despite efforts to boost attendance with cosmetic changes and tweaks to the format, the game did not feature the major stars fans were hoping to see, and the players themselves did not appear to be giving their all. This year’s decline in viewership is the largest single-season decline since 2000, a troubling sign for the NBA’s popularity.
