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NHL 4 Nations Face Off closes in on NBA Finals viewership after Cale Makar leads Canada
NHL 4 Nations Face Off closes in on NBA Finals viewership after Cale Makar leads Canada (Image via Getty)
A surprising twist has shaken the sports world. At a recent hockey competition, something happened that caused many supporters and specialists to stop and consider. The number of viewers was more important than only who won or lost.
Though the NBA Finals were packed with drama and high level athletes, a hockey competition with only four teams almost equaled their viewership. This could indicate a change in American preferences for viewing.
Cole Makar leads Canada
to victory as 4 Nations Face-Off nearly matches
NBA Finals viewership
Leading his country to triumph in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off—an international hockey tournament including the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland—Cole Makar of Team Canada, representing the Colorado Avalanche, helped on June 22, 2025. Makar commented,
'I just hope everybody enjoyed watching the game. It was a lot of fun for us to play in.'
Fans saw their favorite NHL players compete for their countries for the first time since 2016.
Particularly during the national anthems, the game brought forth intense emotions from both American and Canadian supporters.
The passion and pride shown on the ice drew major interest. Over 16.1 million people tuned in to watch the final, with 9.3 million from the U.S. and 6.3 million from Canada, according to ESPN and TSN reports.
That number was only 0.25 million fewer than the NBA Finals Game 7, a major shock considering how big the NBA usually is in the U.S.
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The NHL averaged 6.5 million viewers during the entire Face-Off tournament across North America—up 25% from the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
NBA Finals ratings drop despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's historic Game 7 performance
Attending the NBA Finals this year were the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. ESPN reports the Thunder won 103–91 after six grueling games on June 21, 2025. With 29 points and 12 assists, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, their star player, became only the fifth player in NBA history to achieve a 20-10 stat line in a Game 7.
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Even with that exciting finish, the average viewership of the series dropped by 9.3% from last year. Only 16.35 million watched Game 7, down from 31 million during the 2016 NBA Finals. Viewership peaked at 19.3 million around 9:45 p.m. ET, but the overall drop has many wondering if the NBA is losing some of its audience.
Experts are asking: will the 4 Nations Face-Off keep growing while the NBA numbers fall? The NHL has not yet confirmed a second tournament, but fans are already waiting for news.
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