No one can really debate that the NBA’s popularity has been very low since they returned from the 1999 lockout. Many speculate as to why, but one reason stands out above all others to me, and somehow is rarely mentioned in these discussions.
The NBA has absolutely NO parity.Critics will be quick to point to overpaid players (but baseball players make more), the thug/gangster image (but the NBA requires suits on the bench if you’re not in uniform), whining players (but NFL players whine considerably more without the harsh and quick punishments David Stern has wisely introduced this year to ALL players), hip-hop, crime-ridden lifestyles (however the NFL has WAY MORE off-the-field incidents, not only based on aggregate size but also by percentage), quality of play (I’ve attended and watched more NBA games the past two seasons than any since the mid 90s and the quality of play – especially since 18-19 year olds can no longer jump right into the league – is better than ever, much higher than college hoops) and much else, but those are not the reasons few people, aside from teenagers, some collegians and readers of SLAM Magazine, watch Orlando-Sacramento on a Monday or Miami-Philadelphia on a Wednesday, and fewer arenas (like mine here in Indianapolis) sell out than ever before.
The NBA is uninteresting, as we know what is going to happen year in and year out.
Yes, the Lakers may go deeper into the playoffs that the past two years, and sure, Orlando and Utah will likely return to the postseason with exciting, young teams. (While in Salt Lake City on the final day of the season this past April, I read a lengthy article which predicted this accurately.) But we know how this ends:
With Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Detroit and Miami.
New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, the Clippers, Denver, Indiana et al will bow out in the first or second round, and thus, you have your season.
Compare this to the NFL where three out of the four finalists last year might not make the playoffs, and of last year’s big regular season winners, only Indianapolis and Chicago are back where they were in 2006. Both those teams lost their first playoff games in January 2005 also.
And compare this to baseball. For all the whining about Pittsburgh and KC not being able to compete, the Yankees and Red Sox with their monstrous payrolls that we all complain about, have won a COMBINED THREE playoff games the past two seasons, and obviously, ZERO playoff series. In 2003 and 2004, NYY and Boston won a combined 35 postseason contests.
The final four in 2005 MLB were Chicago, Houston, Saint Louis and Anaheim. ONLY Saint Louis returned to the playoffs, and despite winning the title, their 2006 record was far inferior to the past few seasons.
The NBA just does not have that intrigue. We know how the story ends each June, and until an alternative ending is released, people won’t care to buy (into) this story.
2 replies on “Why no one cares about the NBA”
I think… that the quality of play is horrendous. Not necessarily the talent of the individuals, which is much higher than the college game, but the team’s ability to create for each other. As I attempt to watch any NBA game (and I rarely do), it is easy to notice every possession ending with one player trying to do it all. I also see the paint being vacated, leaving one player to score the easy rebound. The NBA players, in my opinion, simply don’t play as hard together as the college players do.
Indeed Glad you mentioned that because, though my article may not have indicated that, I agree. I LOVE college hoops and would watch ANY college game over a pro game, especially “mid-major” ball where real team work exists.
I was just saying that the NBA players are still very solid, even though guys definitely do isolate themselves for the duration of many possessions, especially if they are “superstars” or think they are (Marbury, McGrady, etc). Part of the reason may be the 24 second clock, rather than 35 in college.
However I do see a vast improvement in the shooting of most NBA players over 1999 when many guards couldn’t hit an open 18 footer to save their lives, it seemed.