NBA viewership down

[scrabbarista]

Officiating.

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As I mentioned in the game thread, Crowder did this to both Steven Adams and Jalen Green in that game. And the Kings' announcer even used the word "intentional" to describe Crowder's fouls. The one on Adams was also called a common foul.

[Billy Goat]

I never understood why fans care so much about this. Even if the ratings are reduced by half overnight and then by half again in 3 years time, the NBA would still be by far the richest basketball league in the world and able to attract the top talent of the world. Even if the next TV contract is only 25% of the one it just signed, the NBA would be in a league of its own financially among basketball leagues. The owners and the players will make a lot less money, but I couldn't care less about this, they will be millionaires and billionaires.

Fans care because the terrible ratings clearly correlate with load management, fake injuries, and unlikeable players who don’t want to play on a nightly basis.

Which unlikable players do you have in mind?

The ones who skip games

[Jamaaliver]

Weak

This era is increasingly frustrating to watch because of terrible defensive foul calls.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[LockoutSeason]

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The fact that this got community noted is hilarious.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Officiating.

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As I mentioned in the game thread, Crowder did this to both Steven Adams and Jalen Green in that game. And the Kings' announcer even used the word "intentional" to describe Crowder's fouls. The one on Adams was also called a common foul.

Jae Crowder is obviously at the late-stage rabble-rousing part of his career.

He's not really out there to play basketball. He's out there to stir **** up. Whether it's a slap here. Nudge here. Ridiculous complaint to officials there. Bump there. Trash talk here. The guy is CONSTANTLY doing the littlest things to get under everyone else's skin. Just watch him for any five minute stretch and admire his commitment. Heck, he'll even hand the ball to an opponent in an antagonistic way (shoving it into their throat) while acting like it's unintentional. It's amusing in its audacity.

It's blatantly obvious that he's watched PJ Tucker keep cashing checks for the past few seasons and figured "Hey, I'm only 34. I can be the next PJ Tucker and make a few more million!" Enough officials will fall for his gimmicks and he'll cause enough disruption whether it's via trash talk or hero ball from opponents to keep things rolling awhile longer despite him being a shell of a player.

[ItsDanger]

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[EmpireFalls]

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That’s just Cam Payne.

[bledredwine]

Weak

This era is increasingly frustrating to watch because of terrible defensive foul calls.

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When players drive to the rim, you literally see the defenders putting their hands in the air or to their own chest with the obvious body language of trying to showcase to the ref that they’re not making any contact with the offender.

It’s straight up embarassing and a disgrace to sport.

[HotelVitale]

Weak

This era is increasingly frustrating to watch because of terrible defensive foul calls.

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When players drive to the rim, you literally see the defenders putting their hands in the air or to their own chest with the obvious body language of trying to showcase to the ref that they’re not making any contact with the offender.

It’s straight up embarassing and a disgrace to sport.

Do you guys seriously think there weren't some terrible foul calls in every era of the NBA? And in super important moments too? I would love to see some more physicality allowed and still get annoyed at weak touch calls on drives, but that's part of sports all the time. And it's definitely not happening all the time these days.

Last season was the lowest # of fouls called per game in history btw, this season isn't far off. If you really feel like watching the NBA in 2024 is just constant horrible calls--in a way that didn't happen in say 1996 or 2012--my guess is it's more about a narrative building in your head than the actual game stuff.

[Jeremy Lin 7]

Weak

This era is increasingly frustrating to watch because of terrible defensive foul calls.

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Foul baiting players never amount to anything. It was worse when embidd, harden, Luka were at their peak and doing this ****

Now we got DD, Brunson, and others doing the same bs

[Wolfgang630]

It’s the three point shooting, the carrying, the defense not being allowed to be defense except for a select few.

[Doranku]

Organizations and the players don't care about the regular season. Why should fans?

[SK21209]

The idea that shooting too many 3s as the reason for declining viewership is idiotic. When the Warriors were popular the NBA was doing great in ratings.

I think young people don't have cable and watch highlights. And basically there are just no compelling stars anymore.

Steph, LeBron, Durant are aging out. Who is the next big thing? Celtics are just boring.

Anthony Edwards is the only player that I think even has a chance to be a global star. Until we figure that out people are going to start tuning out.

Especially during NFL and election season.

The Warriors were popular because they were different. They were revolutionary. Back then differences in play style were easy to spot. The Warriors had their own style, so did the Spurs, so did the Grizzlies, so did the Clippers, so did the Thunder. It jumped out at you on the screen. It's more subtle now.

You did hit on the biggest issue IMO, which is that the league and its stars just aren't as culturally relevant anymore. In general, we have less of a common culture. The internet, social media, streaming etc. resulted in people settling into more niche communities of interest, rather than just going along with the largest cultural institutions. LeBron, Steph, KD, they're still ultra famous. But the "second tier" stars like Shai or Tatum are way less culturally relevant than "second tier guys" from 20 years ago like Vince or TMAC.

The NFL has managed to hold its ground, but even they I think are waning a little bit.

[mg]

Alot has been covered in this thread but I do think the lack of any mainstream superstar level American player in their prime is a huge ratings issue. The league has always marketed the big names but there really aren't any in the league. Lebron and Curry are both past their primes. The 3 pt shot has overtaken the game to the point where Curry isn't even unique anymore.

There isn't a Dr Jr/Bird/MJ/Kobe/Shaq type player that is going to inspire or draw the American audience. Doncic, Giannis, Jokic, Shai are all fantastic but none of them are American icons. Even the next big thing Wemby is an international player. Zion was the latest American drafted player who had a chance to become a superstar but has been derailed by injuries. Injuries have been a huge issue for a lot of all star players including Kawhi, Ja, PG13, Embiid, AD, Paolo, etc.

The NBA just doesn't have the personalities playing in these regular season games to attract a big national audience. Many Americans might consider WWE to be rigged in some way but people keep tuning in because of the bigger than life personalities.

[NZB2323]

I wonder if the decrease in ratings has any correlation with instant replays. I can't stand instant replays. It's so boring to watch officials backs and replay the same camera angle over and over again to see whose fingertips touched the ball last or if it was a block/charge.

Instant replays work in the NFL because there are natural stoppages and big plays. Basketball is supposed to be a back and forth game.

[DonaldSanders]

The NBA just doesn't have the personalities playing in these regular season games to attract a big national audience. Many Americans might consider WWE to be rigged in some way but people keep tuning in because of the bigger than life personalities.

Many, might? I sincerely hope it's just some kids that don't realize WWE is scripted.

[NZB2323]

Alot has been covered in this thread but I do think the lack of any mainstream superstar level American player in their prime is a huge ratings issue. The league has always marketed the big names but there really aren't any in the league. Lebron and Curry are both past their primes. The 3 pt shot has overtaken the game to the point where Curry isn't even unique anymore.

There isn't a Dr Jr/Bird/MJ/Kobe/Shaq type player that is going to inspire or draw the American audience. Doncic, Giannis, Jokic, Shai are all fantastic but none of them are American icons. Even the next big thing Wemby is an international player. Zion was the latest American drafted player who had a chance to become a superstar but has been derailed by injuries. Injuries have been a huge issue for a lot of all star players including Kawhi, Ja, PG13, Embiid, AD, Paolo, etc.

The NBA just doesn't have the personalities playing in these regular season games to attract a big national audience. Many Americans might consider WWE to be rigged in some way but people keep tuning in because of the bigger than life personalities.

The other issue with Jokic/Giannis have, apart from being foreign, is they're bigs.

Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Jordan, Iverson, Kobe, Lebron, and Curry have been the most popular NBA players. Russell, Wilt, Moses, Kareem, Shaq, and Duncan were all American and great players, but never super popular.

[Mephariel]

Yeah, Jokic is clear cut the best player in the NBA right now and nobody wants to really be like him.

If you can have the skills and talent of any player, I bet most people would rather have Lebron, Curry, or Edwards' combination of skills and talent.

[sp6r=underrated]

Many Americans might consider WWE to be rigged in some way

I don't consider the WWE rigged. And people who do are conspiracy theorists.

But the WWE has the worst officiating problem of any sport I've ever seen. The refs are constantly distracted or falling down. Outside interference occurs regularly. The announcers won't even bother to explain the rulebook. And the owner won't institute replay. It really distracts from the world's oldest sport. Hopefully some day it will change.