SAN ANTONIO — LeBron James watched Golden State’s 92-86 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday that got the Warriors within one win of setting an NBA record for a regular season.
So did a lot of other people nationwide on a free preview of NBA-TV.
Golden State’s win to match the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ mark of 72 victories averaged almost 2.6 million viewers. That’s 78 percent higher than the previous best for the network, regular season or playoffs. An earlier Spurs-Warriors matchup Jan. 25 averaged more than 1.4 million viewers.
NBA Digital announced Thursday that Sunday’s game would be made available to fans who don’t normally get the channel as part of a free preview to cable and satellite subscribers.
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In February, the Warriors’ come-from-behind overtime win over the Thunder averaged more than 5.3 million viewers on ABC, the most-watched non-Christmas NBA regular-season game since 2013.
James saw it at his home in Ohio.
The Cavaliers’ star said he appreciates what the Warriors have done in matching the NBA record for regular-season wins set by Michael Jordan and Co. Golden State (72-9) can break the mark with a home win Wednesday against Memphis.
“I can say that I actually got to witness some history,” James said after shootaround Monday as the Cavs prepared to play the Atlanta Hawks.
James was 11 and idolizing Jordan when he and the Bulls set a record some thought untouchable.
“I remember the ’95-96 team, but I wasn’t watching every game, wasn’t fortunate enough to watch every game,” said James, who lost twice to the Warriors this season. “So, I knew about it. I kind of watched the Bulls from afar, but to actually be in the league now while they’re setting this record, have the opportunity to set this record, it would be something I can talk about later in life.”
The Warriors’ historic win Sunday ended Golden State’s 33-game losing skid in San Antonio, a skid stretching back to 1997.
It would be understandable if James harbored some resentment toward the Warriors. After all, Golden State denied James a third league title by beating the Cavs in last year’s Finals.
James, though, expressed admiration of the accomplishment.
“I feel like they’ve just played their game,” he said. “You can’t fault anyone for winning and then say, ‘Oh, they were tired because they lost late.’ You don’t get that opportunity if you don’t win.”
