Stephen A Smith suggest that NBA rating are down because players don't hate each other. Is there any truth to that?
- Thread starter Standing on business
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Well almost, more like teams don’t hate each other. There’s no team rivalries to speak of and since it’s so individual star driven there’s more concern with brand image than there is showing up your competition.
We don’t live in an age currently where NBA rivalries can exist.
We don’t live in an age currently where NBA rivalries can exist.
People want drama and a storyline. I can agree with Stephen on that though. As someone who watches MMA I'm not super into the drama but I like it a little bit and it puts assess in seats.
Too many technical fouls are making the game not fun
Too many technical fouls are making the game not fun
Drama and storylines are down
Stephen A’s network doesn’t tell the story for the fans in favor of selling ads
Stephen A’s network doesn’t tell the story for the fans in favor of selling ads
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Dipsey Doo
Superstar
Average NBA salary is a shade under 12 million per year. No incentive to be the best or be consistently competitive because everyone is fat and happy.
If you are a fringe player, you basically have to go along to get along.
If you are a fringe player, you basically have to go along to get along.
Dorian Breh
Veteran
Ratings are down because losers like SAS tell fans the NBA aint shyt
Chuck and Shaq spend more time watching pockets than the game
In The Zone '98
Superstar
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
These old fools do know NBA players didn’t hate each other in the old days either?
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain didn’t hate each other while they played. Magic and Bird didn’t hate each other either—they didn’t know each other. Jordan didn’t hate anyone he went against
This whole, “players today aren’t competitive like the old days when they tried to kill each other” is fake.
shyt, Magic and Isiah were giving each other kisses before finals games.
There are lot of reasons for NBA ratings not being that high, but this ain’t it.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain didn’t hate each other while they played. Magic and Bird didn’t hate each other either—they didn’t know each other. Jordan didn’t hate anyone he went against
This whole, “players today aren’t competitive like the old days when they tried to kill each other” is fake.
shyt, Magic and Isiah were giving each other kisses before finals games.
There are lot of reasons for NBA ratings not being that high, but this ain’t it.
Can we stop perpetuating this myth that the viewership is down for the NBA? It's not down. Point. Blank. Period.
The NBA is still one of the most watched leagues, in this country and all around the globe. The percentage of people in this country who're fans of the NBA has increased since 2019. The NBA is the most followed sports league online in the entire world. The NBA has set attendance records overs the last two seasons.
The TV ratings in the U.S. are down.
And the main reason for why the TV ratings are down are because -
“Currently, Cable TV subscriptions are in just 68.7 million households in the United States. That’s a decline of 34.57% compared to 105 million cable TV subscribers recorded in 2010.”
The NBA is still one of the most watched leagues, in this country and all around the globe. The percentage of people in this country who're fans of the NBA has increased since 2019. The NBA is the most followed sports league online in the entire world. The NBA has set attendance records overs the last two seasons.
The TV ratings in the U.S. are down.
And the main reason for why the TV ratings are down are because -
“Currently, Cable TV subscriptions are in just 68.7 million households in the United States. That’s a decline of 34.57% compared to 105 million cable TV subscribers recorded in 2010.”
Who hated each other? Russell and Chamberlain were having dinner together. Bird and Magic aint know each other and once they did they became friends. Zeke was all in the Lakers locker room and him and Magic was kissing before games. MJ and Chuck were friends. MJ is besties with the Knicks top enforcer. So without clicking 
when exactly was the hate era that was drawing all these big ratings?
when exactly was the hate era that was drawing all these big ratings?
For me the kobe and MJ type of i have no friends on the court and fukk u nikkas feelings are long gone
stepbackj34spud
Top 75 All-Time
Stephen A Smith doesnt watch games. He’s part of the problem. Foh.
And the median is 6.7 million.
What's there to be mad about.
Sidenote:
MLB median is 1.5 mill
NFL median is 860k
No wonder NFL nikkaz beef more
Marlow Stanfield
Superstar
I remember when the NHL was on NBC, they would have Wednesday Night Rivalry which was a night where two teams who had a rivalry would play (such as: Boston vs. Toronto). This was regardless of current team standing. It was dope af.
I love the NBA and I think much of this ratings talk is blown wayyyy out of proportion. But, the league lacks excitement and a level of fun right now. It's on the NBA to drum up excitement for the games.
Moreover, there needs to be more games on national TV and a consistent schedule of national televised games. Having ESPN broadcast NBA on SOME Wednesdays or TNT on SOME Tuesdays is annoying. If it's Tue, Wed, Thurs, or Fri, NBA needs to be on for everyone to watch. No exceptions. Imagine if the NFL let Amazon take Thursdays off from broadcasting TNF.
cartierhoe
Veteran
I bet nobody on here even knew (besides Rockets fans) that the Rockets were 0-16 against the Warriors until this year in the NBA Cup tournament game that they ended up winning. Two teams who've had history for going on damn near 10 years, but guys like SAS don't build the game up and just want to tear it down. SAS would probably know that if he watched games but he doesn't, these narratives are just thrown out there because the league doesn't do a good job of promoting itself.