NBA ratings are down. And everyone seems to have their own opinion why:
🔸Teams are taking too many 3s
🔸Officiating is too soft
🔸A cultural disconnect
Let's take a quick look at each:
🔸Teams are taking too many 3s
This theory seems to be the most trendy. Fans claim the NBA is boring, as all teams just chuck 3s.
But one of the biggest stars in NBA history is Steph Curry. And he chucks a ton of 3s. The same can be said about stars like Damian Lillard. And Luka Doncic. And the Boston Celtics.
Look at the WNBA. Caitlin Clark isn't breaking ratings records without shooting 3s.
3s may not be the problem.
🔸Officiating is too soft
Fans complain about refs sending stars to the line too much.
But strangely, the 2023-24 season had the lowest free throw rate in NBA history.
And look at the NFL. They're often criticized for being "rigged" - and both fans and media openly attack refs for favoring the Kansas City Chiefs.
Yet the NFL's revenue and ratings haven't taken a hit.
🔸A cultural disconnect
This one may have some merit.
American fans don't seem to be taking to the NBA's international stars.
Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - all are superstars. And yet fans haven't taken to them in the same way as stars of years past.
The NBA's global viewership is exploding, but its American viewers crave Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird, LeBron James vs Steph Curry, Michael Jordan vs the world.
Today the NBA has multiple MVPs and MVP candidates doing historical, unspeakable things to other teams every night.
And yet viewership doesn't reflect any of that. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson's return to the Bay to face his old teammates hit 2.1 million viewers - TNT's most-watched game outside of Opening Night.
Some believe the NBA has lost what made it great. Commissioner Adam Silver believes it's a temporary loss of viewers because of the World Series and the US election taking so much attention.
But if you've stopped watching the NBA, ask yourself...
What change would the NBA have to make to earn your viewership back?
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