The Golden State Warriors, long considered one of the NBA’s premier television draws, are currently facing a significant dip in viewership during Stephen Curry’s absence. Recent data indicates that the team’s ability to “move the needle” is heavily dependent on the superstar’s presence on the court.
A Historic Low in Ratings
The most recent Warriors-Thunder matchup on ABC’s “NBA Saturday Primetime†drew a 1.1 rating and 1.90 million viewers. This marks the lowest viewership for a Golden State game on the network since 2002, excluding a 2024 “filler” game scheduled during the Hollywood writers’ strike.
Comparing the Impact
- Curry’s Absence: The Warriors have struggled to reach the 2-million-viewer mark without Curry. Similar trends were noted during a injury-plagued stretch in March 2020.
- Market Comparison: While other marquee games, such as Celtics-Cavaliers and Knicks-Lakers, are seeing sharp year-over-year growth in ratings, the Warriors are falling behind, consistently appearing in the least-watched windows on broadcast television.
- Streaming Performance: Golden State’s recent outing on Prime Video against the Rockets drew 967,000 viewers, an 11% decrease compared to similar windows from the previous year.
While the team remains a household name, these statistics underscore the immense gravitational pull Stephen Curry exerts over NBA television ratings. As the franchise awaits his return, the league faces a challenging period in capturing the massive, casual audience that defines Golden State’s success.