While some feel the NBA is in good hands these days, plenty have complained about the league and its product for a while.
Television ratings are reportedly down this season, and many have theories on why that is, as the league still has lots of star power, from veteran superstars to rising young players.
Former NBA guard Patrick Beverley gave his five reasons why viewership is down on his “Pet Bev Pod” podcast, and according to him, it’s because it is currently also football season, there are injured stars, social media making it easy to watch clips of games without actually tuning into them, too many 3-pointers and every star player having a following.
5 reasons why NBA viewership is down
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Since football is the most popular sport in the nation, NBA viewership is usually lower in the early months of the season, especially since games have much more meaning later on after the Super Bowl takes place.
Right now, there are a number of great players out with injuries, and the practice of stars sitting out games while healthy due to load management has also marred the NBA’s product.
While it could be argued that the quality of play is better than it has been in decades, many have lamented the meteoric rise of the 3-point shot, and there are stretches of play where it seems all teams do is continually jack up threes out of rhythm.
Plenty also complain that allegedly, no defense is played anymore, contrary to the emphasis coaches still place on that end of the floor and always will no matter what.
There are always holes people can poke at when it comes to any successful product, but the NBA has to figure out how to deal with some of the challenges Beverley outlined.
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