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Knicks Historic Comeback: "Inside the NBA" Goes Live
13 Jun
Summary
- Ernie Johnson hosted show from center court after historic comeback.
- The show moved to ESPN and ABC this season under a new agreement.
- Wednesday's comeback averaged 20.9 million viewers, most for Game 4 since 2003.
The "Inside the NBA" team experienced a unique moment hosting their show from center court at Madison Square Garden following the New York Knicks' record-breaking comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Host Ernie Johnson described the atmosphere as electric, reminiscent of a college game. This season marks the first time the iconic quartet of Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and Kenny Smith has anchored NBA Finals coverage, following the show's move to ESPN and ABC.
The transition to ESPN and ABC has been seamless, enhancing the networks' NBA coverage. The show's pregame program airs for 90 minutes, with the first hour on ESPN before shifting to ABC. The postgame show begins on ESPN immediately after ABC's coverage concludes and runs for at least an hour. This successful partnership has coincided with record viewership for the NBA Finals.
Wednesday night's Game 4 comeback alone averaged 20.9 million viewers, peaking at 23.2 million, making it the most-watched Game 4 since ABC began broadcasting the finals in 2003. The series is averaging 19.6 million viewers, significantly up from the previous year and on pace to be the most-watched NBA Finals since 1998.
