NBA ratings aren't down because of three-point attempts. The real problem is the next generation of players who have yet to do enough to seize attention in an NBA build on superstardom. ✍️ @thompsonscribe.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/604... - ThreadSky

theathletic.bsky.social • 46 days ago

NBA ratings aren't down because of three-point attempts.

The real problem is the next generation of players who have yet to do enough to seize attention in an NBA build on superstardom.

✍️ @thompsonscribe.bsky.social

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6045081/2025/01/08/nba-ratings-rivalries-stars/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq

Comments

prezmullet.bsky.social•46 days ago

There’s Jokic and Giannis, 2 guys who have won multiple MVPs and a championship. They aren’t covered.

Somehow Jayson Tatum, on a big name team and defending the championship, doesn’t get more ink.

Those guys in the pic are the best players on teams on pace to win 70 games this season.

foxyenigma.bsky.social•45 days ago

It’s boring just watching threes - people want dunks & big blocks - there are too many games which don’t mean enough (& I love NFL & MLB with contrasting amount of games.

smokeymcp.bsky.social•45 days ago

Naw dude…it’s the three’s and lack of ball movement. Late 90’s spurs, mid 2000 warriors. That’s great basketball, not Houston James Harden ball.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

The Cavaliers would like a word re: ball movement.

smokeymcp.bsky.social•45 days ago

Good for them, I don’t see many Cav games on national TV unfortunately. I do appreciate they have post players who play in the post though lol.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

I'm biased but their deep bench and philosophy is fun to watch. They shoot 3's at high rate but ball movement is dizzying and hard to defend at times. Tonight is OK/Cle. on national TV I think. Check them out. Sure to be a doozy.

leahbh.bsky.social•45 days ago

They're playing the thunder tonight in ESPN. You should watch. Both teams 30+ wins. Thunder on 15 game win streak, Cavs on 10 game win streak. Best offense vs best defense. It should be an awesome game.

b-kellyjr.bsky.social•45 days ago

NBA has a lot riding on Wemby.

tonysoprano63.bsky.social•46 days ago

Oh, it is definitely too many three point shots. They should subtract one point for every missed three point shot. That would cut down on three point shooting and have more penetration and better defense needed. The game is unwatchable now.

docfelladay.bsky.social•45 days ago

Only allow so many three point baskets a game. When you reach the max, they are now worth two.

bill1964.bsky.social•45 days ago

Been watching NBA for years. Jacking up 3’s for 48 minutes is the single most reason why watching the NBA has become boring . Just my opinion

blackohiosky.bsky.social•45 days ago

It's long been time to raise the rims. Humans have outgrown these dimensions. When a 7 footer dunks it's as exciting as tossing paper into a waste basket.

ogdowney.bsky.social•46 days ago

Nope. That’s not why but good try

ogdowney.bsky.social•46 days ago

Also, I think you meant to say “built”, not “build”. Can I have your job? You don’t seem to care that much about it

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

Nobody likes a typo cop. You forgot a period.

ogdowney.bsky.social•45 days ago

And you’re a hypocrite!! He gets paid for that shit. If he’s gonna post shitty sports takes blaming young players for why the NBA is in a terrible state, then the least he could do is be grammatically correct. That’s your boy? My bad

ogdowney.bsky.social•45 days ago

Especially for a publication that hides behind paywalls frequently. I would never say anything about a regular persons grammar.

thedrummer.bsky.social•45 days ago

I like a typo cop.

ogdowney.bsky.social•45 days ago

My guy!!!!!!

fifthdentist.bsky.social•45 days ago

There's also the issue that the regular season doesn't mean diddly.

marktierneymt.bsky.social•45 days ago

3 point attempts is definitely a significant part of it.

pppccc.bsky.social•46 days ago

Yes it's the players fault not the media that covers the league.

vsg210.bsky.social•46 days ago

It’s not easy to watch games anymore. I’m in the Spurs home viewing area and my cable company stopped carrying the channel & I can’t get league pass bc I’m in the home area so if I want to watch most of their games I have to get a subscription. It’s just not worth another subscription fee.

byrnefields.bsky.social•46 days ago

I'd watch SGA braid his hair. He is a star. To the non-casuals.

byrnefields.bsky.social•45 days ago

PS - If you're not canceling everything to watch the Thunder play the Cavaliers tonight at 7pm ET/4 pm PT, you're casual.

luvsoldat.bsky.social•45 days ago

I think it’s more to do with how people consume content.

digtialbootleg.bsky.social•45 days ago

I can't afford to watch sports..

mailman28.bsky.social•46 days ago

I think the lack of stardom is the players fault..think college football, on TV every week, guy comes out, 1st year gets his feet wet..2nd year really good..3rd year great, heisman trophy candidate, everyone knows him and wants to see him play on Sunday..he declares for the draft..1/

mailman28.bsky.social•46 days ago

And there is no team in Seattle!!!!!!!

mailman28.bsky.social•46 days ago

And the NBA has a few problems it could solve..the officiating is horrible...makes the NFL look great..a lot of acting by players..a 6-9, 300lb guy getting breathed on and flopping through the key like he got run over by Derrick Henry is embarrassing... 4/

mailman28.bsky.social•46 days ago

The big trades with players never heard of every year make it hard for a fan base to embrace a team..players ( LeBron ) going from team to team to win rings is hard to stomach...3/

mailman28.bsky.social•46 days ago

Now go college basketball..on TV but games are on everyday of the week..HS kid plays one season and declares for the draft..not a superstar..who is he???..the rush by players to get to the pros and skip college hurts them and the game..2/

orangepowder.bsky.social•46 days ago

Courts need to be bigger, baskets higher, so it looks more like adults playing and not toddlers.

fro-1.bsky.social•45 days ago

The only way I can watch Houston Rockets without cable is with FuboTV. Lowest priced Fubo is about 120 a month with the "regional sports fee". This is too much for just Rockets/Astros so cancelled. That's why ratings are down, too expensive to watch.

runningwaldo.bsky.social•45 days ago

Exactly. Blackouts and the regional sports network model are a recipe for fan interest declining.

If fans can’t see the games, ratings and interest drops. Seems like a simple thing to understand, yet the people running these leagues do nothing.

retired345.bsky.social•44 days ago

Exactly, Fro! I am a retired teacher. I can’t justify paying $120 a month for anything beyond the basics.

coachfah.bsky.social•45 days ago

2 things can be true at the same time

sp2799.bsky.social•45 days ago

My article submission to The Athletic:
[headline]
Why are NBA ratings down?
[body content] The real issue, the one proven by customer behavior,
subscription fatigue.
-30-

adlangx.bsky.social•45 days ago

Nah, its really the constant 3 point shots.

adlangx.bsky.social•45 days ago

Also my kids have never been able to watch the Blazers so they don't care. Put the games on easily accessible TV.

tbonek.bsky.social•46 days ago

Actually I stopped watching because of the 3 point pop a shot.

Zero defense.

N.B.A has turned into street ball trash.

gregsteiner.bsky.social•45 days ago

Uh, you obviously haven't watched OKC...

tbonek.bsky.social•45 days ago

Thankfully, no.

urbanpoet.bsky.social•45 days ago

..or the Caveliers

wyatt79.bsky.social•45 days ago

I'd watch SGA, Mitchell, and Edwards over Lakers, Warriors and Suns any day. IDC how much history their legacy players have. Next generation has outperformed the old generation for a while now. They have done enough. It's time to let go of the past.

nohitter2015.bsky.social•45 days ago

built.

loserdude.bsky.social•46 days ago

Flipped the tv from Tennessee/Florida to Mavs/Lakers last night and it was different worlds. Hard to say what it is, but the NBA was less entertaining, they made shots at a higher clip but seemed slower or more mechanical

rjb44.bsky.social•45 days ago

There's plenty of incredibly enjoyable players to watch. Problem FOR ME is, they're always freaking hurt. The game speed is too fast and probably is leading to the injuries. Use the 24 second shot clock.

gsperls38.bsky.social•46 days ago

It shouldn’t be difficult and cost an arm/leg to watch a game…

pppccc.bsky.social•46 days ago

I don't understand this take. League Pass is cheaper than most streaming platforms (it's cheaper than FanDuel Sports Network and I just get one basketball team and baseball games I'll never watch) and I can watch my home team by switching on a VPN.

naps911.bsky.social•45 days ago

I think a lot of it has to do with perception. I’m 40, and I can remember when I was a kid my hometown teams were all free, and there were less commercials. Now I have to pay to watch it and sit through more ads. They even have ads on their jerseys now. Pass those savings on to the customer.

urbanpoet.bsky.social•45 days ago

Commercials while shooting foul shots, w/split screen while they're wiping the floor as well!

oklasotagal.bsky.social•45 days ago

VPN doesn't work for me. League Pass won't let me watch any games when my VPN is active, and gives me a message saying it won't play because a VPN was detected. Luckily, I'm a Thunder fan in Minnesota, but it has hurt my ability to follow the Wolves.

pppccc.bsky.social•45 days ago

Interesting. It works on my Google TV flawlessly. NordVPN app and then open League Pass.

leahbh.bsky.social•45 days ago

Blackouts. Until the league gets rid of blackouts, league pass doesn't matter.

pppccc.bsky.social•45 days ago

VPN works for me.

leahbh.bsky.social•45 days ago

Not everyone wants to do that. Or to watch illegal streams. I just want to watch my local team. And I pay for cable to do that. It's literally the ONLY reason I have cable

pppccc.bsky.social•45 days ago

I'd rather switch on a VPN I already have than give FanDuel (or a cable company) more money. I do agree with you though since we have YouTube TV and our home games are nowhere to be found there.

cidmcdp.bsky.social•45 days ago

Oh please. If Mitchell played for Boston and Shai played for the Lakers, ESPN would never shut up about them.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

You can add Garland and Mobley and many others to that statement.

cidmcdp.bsky.social•45 days ago

Oh absolutely. Cavs are solid!

joelfilomeno.bsky.social•45 days ago

Facts!

urbanpoet.bsky.social•45 days ago

Absolutely!!!

danielgleason.bsky.social•45 days ago

I dunno, literally everyone I talk to about current nba says the same thing: they’re sick of the defense and shot selection being below 90s all star game standards. It’s just not a compelling sport to watch currently

michaeljordan99.bsky.social•46 days ago

The game is an endless, mind numbing, barrage of 3 point attempts.

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•46 days ago

Yeah you don't watch

michaeljordan99.bsky.social•45 days ago

Correct. I don’t watch anymore. I have more productive things to do.

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•45 days ago

And now you look even more foolish to me. You apparently aren't too productive to comment on something you have no clue about.

michaeljordan99.bsky.social•45 days ago

The current NBA Product is trash. Ratings support my opinion. Enjoy your day.

nilabisan.bsky.social•46 days ago

Is the nba still playing?

hardbap.bsky.social•46 days ago

NBA media has no accountability in this? Build up the young stars and cut back on the LeBron content.

southerndandy.bsky.social•46 days ago

They need to get SGA and Ant into better markets. Arguably the two most exciting young players are trapped on teams with no national following.

bonzi777.bsky.social•46 days ago

The NFL doesn’t have any problem with Lamar Jackson being in Baltimore or Josh Allen being in Buffalo. Smaller markets are only a problem if the league treats them as second class.

southerndandy.bsky.social•46 days ago

NFL/NBA is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Football has always been more popular at all levels, and its a more scarce product. And the NBA doesn't treat these teams as 2nd class, fans do. There's no barrier to being a fan of any of these teams outside of people just not caring about them.

bonzi777.bsky.social•46 days ago

The NBA definitely does treat them second class to an extent: they could have put Minnesota vs OKC as the prime time game on Christmas for example instead of Warriors Lakers. It might not go a great number in the short term, but do stuff like that enough times and those teams will matter.

southerndandy.bsky.social•45 days ago

Being aware that fans care more about the Lakers and Warriors is not treating the other teams as second class. It's acknowledging what the audience wants. I think where we disagree is that you think it's the NBA's responsibility to force them to want something else.

bonzi777.bsky.social•45 days ago

Do you think fans in unaffiliated cities just woke up one day and decided “I really care more about what happens in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.” Or is it because those teams have been treated as big deals for years?

jl419.bsky.social•45 days ago

The nfl media does not consistently bash small market teams. It’s never brought up. NBA media constantly bashes small market teams and their cities. The narrative needs to change and that has to start somewhere. Needs to be a long term strategy.

joelfilomeno.bsky.social•45 days ago

It’s not Shai’s fault the media obsesses over LeBron, jimmy butler, and Steph curry.

mishell-no.bsky.social•46 days ago

It's down because u need a different streaming service every other week
But, they also can't play defense anymore. You try to block a 3. It's a foul. And all the LeBron flopping is just annoying
The game needs the excitement that it once had

jjl62.bsky.social•45 days ago

It’s just boring. I’ll watch soccer if I want to watch athletes run back and forth and never get to the goal.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

You are clearly not a sports fan. This is the most ludicrous thing I've read today and that's saying a lot!

jjl62.bsky.social•45 days ago

I’ve been a sports fan since 1970 and basketball has become unwatchable. The Celtics took 24 3 pointers in the second half against OKC and blew a half time lead. I don’t want to watch the NBA for nightly 3 point shot competitions. If you like that, you must not like sports.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

You're not watching.

jjl62.bsky.social•45 days ago

Why would I continue to watch a shitty product? If you like 💩 or 🤮, keep watching.

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

Whispers: "Whatever you do don't mention the advent of the forward pass, live ball era or that the Bullets won the NBA the year before the 3 point shot came to be."

sylvesterskycat.bsky.social•45 days ago

Also, the networks have been slow to adapt to the power shift. Please don't show me the Lakers, Suns or Warriors anymore.

garretevans.com•46 days ago

The REAL problem is stellar games like the one between OKC and Boston on Sunday don’t even make the front page of ESPN in any meaningful way because they decide instead to focus on LA even though there’s nothing really to focus on.

Newer gen can’t make a splash until media actually cover them.

joelfilomeno.bsky.social•45 days ago

This is the reason!

babco.bsky.social•45 days ago

The real problem is the two tiered officiating where big market teams and stars parade to the ft line and foul with impunity in the leagues push yo create marketable stars. Call the games straight same rule book for all teams and players and let the chips fall and the league will benefit.

jschmorris2401.bsky.social•45 days ago

The NBA is not about teams but about players. Right now the fading stars haven’t been replaced by the next Jordan or Magic or Bird or LeBron.

benevoluspf.bsky.social•45 days ago

So it’s not just me that no longer really gives a shit. Used to follow the Sixers closely. Now I’m thinking NFL playoffs and then, Spring Training. Maybe I’ll care come playoff time.

heyitsme214.bsky.social•46 days ago

Think Wemby can/will take one of these superstar spots?

thisismyspout.bsky.social•45 days ago

He's tall.

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•46 days ago

Idk how much he wants it, but he has all the qualities and he's a generational player

heyitsme214.bsky.social•45 days ago

Totally agree!

chobits23.bsky.social•46 days ago

This is true. The league needs to push Tatum more.

bronxbuddy.bsky.social•45 days ago

It’s also the coverage of the “old heads” who speaks poorly about the current players! Nasty work!

donicva.bsky.social•45 days ago

The media over hypes Lebron, Stephen, Jokic, and Thunder/Celtics. Not saying they are bad by any stretch, but there are other exciting products out there ex: Ja Morant, Trae Young, etc.

joelfilomeno.bsky.social•45 days ago

Don’t include OKC in that list. We hardly get national tv versus the others you mentioned

donicva.bsky.social•44 days ago

See I didnt even know that since everyone talks about Shai

docfelladay.bsky.social•45 days ago

Jokic is the best player in the league. They should be hyping him more.

donicva.bsky.social•41 days ago

I personally think Jokic sends emails to Adam for less press and marketing opportunities lol

docfelladay.bsky.social•41 days ago

You may be right!

chriznatch.bsky.social•45 days ago

Maybe, but I’m tired of the NBA’s relentless over-marketing of superstars and would-be superstars. I don’t want every game to be about LeBron James or Steph Curry. I can’t stand that narrative.

mattycows.bsky.social•45 days ago

I think it’s the funny looking tight leggings those guys wear. Whatever their supposed “benefit” is, they truly look ridiculous. Maybe they should call it NBA: Men in Tights

And then there’s the fighting and drama- worse than old school daytime tv. It’s tired

krazykoop.bsky.social•45 days ago

Used to love the NBA, then players just up and quit and don’t want to play for certain teams. Family saves and buys all the gear, tickets, parking, snacks, more apparel. Then the players are “resting”. It turns people off when the players you promote don’t even want to play that night.

aquineas.bsky.social•46 days ago

My prediction is they will eventually have to move the 3-point line back.

haus77.bsky.social•45 days ago

I stopped watching because of the nonstop complaining about every single call and flopping. Did Doncic get fined for that ridiculous flop on Nurkić?

taomike.bsky.social•46 days ago

College BB>NBA. Has been for years. There is no life in the NBA game. Not worth my time or effort to watch regular season games. Maybe the season is way too long for games to matter enough to the players to play with heart and ferocity like College ball.

butterfly-palm.bsky.social•46 days ago

Too many dei players from Eastern Europe. Foreign players can't sell an American sport to Americans. Ask Baseball

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•46 days ago

Why do people, who don't watch the nba, feel the need to comment on it?

haus77.bsky.social•45 days ago

I use to watch, I don't anymore. Can I comment on it?

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•45 days ago

Sure, but your opinion will carry less weight than others

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•46 days ago

Ant man wants it but he lacks the consistency and maturity to be the "face"

anonmrbear.bsky.social•45 days ago

This is a little BS. Ratings are down because more people are watching the games outside paid apps. So instead of creating affordable viewing options, blame SGA and Anthony Edward’s for not being exciting?

fireluigi.bsky.social•45 days ago

Definitely! Also aren't ratings down across all sports? Even the NFL?

I'd argue the NBA is the best at promoting their superstars (seems like every teams got one), with the eception of the NFL and their QBs. But compared to baseball where there's like 2 players casuals know about.

kooegrp.bsky.social•45 days ago

Totally agree. In any given night unless you have subscriptions to the NBA, ESPN, TNT/Max, Fandango, etc etc you ain’t watching, you aim for back door apps to hopefully view.

rk0694.bsky.social•45 days ago

This is correct.

👎 @ Sinclair Broadcasting and profiteering contracts that punish fans, and specifically local ones.

rcssnaps.bsky.social•46 days ago

It also does not help that it is more difficult to watch games now than ever before. Black out rules, subscription requirements, cost of streaming services and live tv, etc.

crabtooch.bsky.social•45 days ago

Probably quite diverse as to why the ratings are down. But at the end of the day, as a 51 year old lover of sport. Who are the must watch players, that even non NBA fans have to divert their original plans to make sure they watch, so they can keep up at the water cooler? Until then, just excuses

tiltsatwindmills.bsky.social•46 days ago

Conversely, the NBA refuses to turn the light down on aging stars, stifling the bidding popularity of the newcomers.

barksdalecliff.bsky.social•46 days ago

Winning and legacy are less important to todays generation. Monetizing the personal brand, max contracts, chasing internet tail and flossing on selfies are the most important things in a young players career now.

brannusunyata.bsky.social•45 days ago

i mean, they're trying to take the baton from three generational players in LBJ, Steph and KD - who have done things no one saw before. Harden, Kawhi, PG3 still have appeal. Jokic, Embiid and Giannis are the best in the world, while they and this young group of guys are just in the shadows.

mffaz.bsky.social•45 days ago

When you decide to stop marketing teams and cities and rivalries and go with pushing superstars who treat the offseason like a fantasy draft so they can force trades to go form "superteams" with their buddies, you're going to suffer when those superstars retire before you can create new ones.

mffaz.bsky.social•45 days ago

There isn't a single meaningful rivalry in the league today, or any two teams who legitimately want to tear each other's throats out. That's what drew the fans. Celtics-Lakers, Knicks-Heat, Bulls-Pistons. They played with genuine murderous intent AND they had superstars.

mffaz.bsky.social•45 days ago

Furthermore, the league doesn't even TRY to market or create those rivalries. Bird vs Magic or Jordan vs Isiah were the subtexts, not the plot.

willy38.bsky.social•45 days ago

Can’t compare now to then.. we absorb information differently now .. ratings are down because it’s easier to watch the rehash on YouTube

mrayzee.bsky.social•45 days ago

Well everyone’s too busy sucking off the lakers and warriors, so yeah

ybfbf.bsky.social•46 days ago

It was supposed to be Zion but he can't stay on the court

coatney.bsky.social•45 days ago

SGA is a back to back first team all NBA player and the league finally decided two weeks ago to start promoting him, not his fault at all lmao

lononautagency.bsky.social•46 days ago

Ja Morant should have been more popular but I cannot wear his jersey after the guns incident.

docfelladay.bsky.social•45 days ago

Maybe we are all tired of endless stories about the shitty Lakers.

productoforlando.bsky.social•46 days ago

It’s down because most people don’t have cable anymore and the nba is not available on streaming platforms most consumers have. Compare that to The nfl which is on abc cbs fox and streaming platforms that people have . You will see an uptick in viewers once nba is on more streaming platforms.

servy8229.bsky.social•46 days ago

And because of the 3 point contest that is now the NBA

jake-epping.bsky.social•46 days ago

If Larry bird could play this efficiently he would have.

anikatheswan.bsky.social•45 days ago

That "efficiency" has become boring to fans. Larry Bird wasn’t boring. An entire league trying to copy Steph Curry (an excellent 3pt shooter), isn’t what the people buying tickets or season passes asked for.

servy8229.bsky.social•46 days ago

No one likes a 3 point contest

leahbh.bsky.social•45 days ago

Nah. The real problem is how hard it is to find games. Not enough are on TV and local blackouts. So ridiculous and expensive to watch

dabigdawgnva.bsky.social•45 days ago

The real reason is because they have no basic skills.
Shooting three’s and dunking is really not a skill set. You can get a dozen playground dudes who can do the same thing

markrpi.bsky.social•45 days ago

Wait...what?

pegasus714.bsky.social•45 days ago

No the real problem is cable companies and streamers locking out local games unless you're willing to pay extra, of course.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

Cooper Flagg is the greatest hope for the NBA, but until they make it harder to score its going to be uninteresting. I'd rather watch a 94-93 game that's good quality than a 127-125 game that looks like no one is guarding the ball and it looks like an exhibition/All Star game.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

This has happened before. When Jordan retired in 98 from 98-2003 the NBA was awful. The ratings sucked, the Finals were not good at all, but even during that time you had Shaq/Kobe winning. Now you have 98-2003 without Shaq/Kobe. You just have a random franchise winning every year.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

You have one generation fading out and a new generation coming in that isn't as intriguing and good. This is what happened with the original Dream Team generation. They all started retiring in the late 90's/early 2000's and were aging.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

On top of that, there's no great young American players. Look at the top 10 players under 30. The majority are foreign born. 4 of the 5 best players in the league under 30 are foreign players. Americans won't get behind foreign players like they will Americans. Americans like American stars

trippybigfoot.bsky.social•46 days ago

Dude that's not even close to true, there aren't that much foreign born players at the top. The majority of euro players tend to be middle of the pack in the NBA

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

The biggest names in the sport are Giannis, Luka, Wembenyama, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Tatum. That is the top 6 ranked players in the NBA now. 1 is American. Steph, Durant, Lebron have all dropped due to age. paolo Banchero and Domantis Sabonis are also ranked in the top 20.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

On top of that, the NBA forgot who its client base is. For decades white people would pack arenas and they stopped catering to them as much and lost the support of a lot of white fans who now hate the NBA or are disinterested.

dawgsontop44.bsky.social•46 days ago

The style of play with the 3's DOES suck, but the refs don't allow defense. A good offensive game used to be scoring 100 points. Now games are like 135-132. They look like glorified All Star games bc the defense isn't allowed to do anything. They need to bring back hand checking in the worst way

snupher.bsky.social•46 days ago

You paid him to write this? And then you promoted the fact you got fleeced by someone who obviously doesn’t fully comprehend the NBA? The Athletic is down bad.

snupher.bsky.social•46 days ago

Aaron Wiggins has been saving basketball for 2 and a half years. One regular season game where people actually tune in and all of a sudden he’s a steal. Whose fault is that? The NBA that doesn’t show small markets as national talent? The player for doing their job? Or the fan who didn’t seek it out?

snupher.bsky.social•46 days ago

(The one with the least culpability is the player. Just an fyi and a hint at the answer.)

caseylouis.bsky.social•45 days ago

We watch other things besides basketball. Life is full of options.

adammerr.bsky.social•46 days ago

Refs constantly calling weak fouls.
3 point contests (often seeing 5 missed 3s in a row)
Forced need to buy NBA league pass to watch games
Biggest issues imo

danielgleason.bsky.social•45 days ago

agreed. they need to bring back hand checking IMO

anikatheswan.bsky.social•45 days ago

Refs making false calls and ignoring obvious violations with offensive fouls, travels, and double dribbles is insane. They should really let the commissioner go lmao

rk0694.bsky.social•45 days ago

Mitchell. Garland. Mobley. Tatum. SGA. Wemby. Giannis (still)... plenty of others.

Journalists & media gotta talk more about the now and the future instead of always looking back and comparing.

docfelladay.bsky.social•45 days ago

Jokic

alexbetweeton.bsky.social•46 days ago

Trae Young is the next iteration of John Stockton but barely gets any respect from the media or the league. Maybe it isn’t the players but the era of media/fandom they play in.

markrpi.bsky.social•45 days ago

Ummm, no.

alexbetweeton.bsky.social•45 days ago

Ummm. He has had 3 20 assist games this year, last done by…wait for it…John Stockton…

markrpi.bsky.social•45 days ago

Doesn't mean he's the next John Stockton. I like Trey, but he's less prolific than Kevin Porter at this point. And hell, Ennis Whatley had two 20+ assist games in a 2+ month span once and Rober Pack had 23 assists in a game once. TY is fantastic, but he isn't Stockton

alexbetweeton.bsky.social•45 days ago

Porter has never averaged 20 ppg or 7 apg, what planet are you on?

alexbetweeton.bsky.social•45 days ago

Trae led the league in points AND assists 2 yrs ago. The scrubs you mentioned aren’t even in the same league. He and Jokic are the best playmakers in the league. He’s literally Tiny Archibald incarnate, probably better than Stockton since Stockton averaged 15 ppg for his career.

markrpi.bsky.social•45 days ago

Not that Porter...and he's a chucker. Stockton is miles ahead of him. And Tiny Archibald is, as well. Trae is a modern, empty stat hound. He had one solid playoff run. One. He is the Taco Bell of the point guards you have cited...seems great at the time, but nothing to build a steady diet with

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