The NBA posted records for attendance and the number of sellouts during the 2022-23 season, eclipsing records set in 2017-18 (attendance) and 2018-19 (sellouts), but it is on pace to break both marks at the league’s midseason break.

Fan attendance is up 2% from last year, which set records for total attendance (22.2 million) and average per game (18,077). The 791 sellouts are also poised to be eclipsed, with the league already at 524 sellouts at the All-Star break.

There are two driving forces at play, according to Jonathan Tillman, who was named the head of the NBA’s team marketing and business operations (TMBO) in January. He cites the competitiveness across the standings this season—the top four Western Conference teams were separated by a half game a week ago—and the introduction of the new In-Season Tournament.