NBA Playoff Ratings Keep Dropping

[jjgold]

Viewership for Game 1 of this season’s Western Conference Finals was down 24% from last season

Excluding the COVID-delayed playoffs of 2020 and 2021, it was the least-watched Conference Finals opener since Grizzlies-Spurs on ABC in 2013

 

[Jrgum3]

I think new blood is good for the league but it's probably bad for ratings. The casual fan just doesn't know these teams like some of the hardcore fans like myself do. Plus New York is the only big market left. I bet the NBA is praying they defeat the Pacers so there will at least be some east coast interest in the Finals.

 

[BobbyFK]

What do you guys think is causing the decline in viewership?

 

[Jrgum3]

What do you guys think is causing the decline in viewership?

I think it absolutely has something to do with new faces in the conference finals. Unless you're a fan of one of these teams do people actually care to watch teams with guys that don't have stars as recognizable as your Lebrons or Steph Curry's? Maybe it's just me but I think the casual fan doesn't have enough to hold their interest with these four teams. IMO the best Finals matchup for the NBA as far as ratings are concerned would be Minnesota/New York because they can build storylines off of that blockbuster trade between these two teams last offseason. If it's OKC/Indiana I bet the ratings will be in the toilet because you'd have two small markets in the Finals.

 

[seaborneq]

If the ratings have been dropping overall because of the style of play its only natural the ratings would drop in the playoffs and finals too. The new NBA won’t have stacked rosters or Big 3s anymore so the playoffs and Finals should have new teams and new faces to see. I don’t watch the regular season a lot anymore because there are zero must see teams or players to me. But I will watch the playoffs religiously. I’m probably the anomaly though.

 

[Jrgum3]

If the ratings have been dropping overall because of the style of play its only natural the ratings would drop in the playoffs and finals too. The new NBA won’t have stacked rosters or Big 3s anymore so the playoffs and Finals should have new teams and new faces to see. I don’t watch the regular season a lot anymore because there are zero must see teams or players to me. But I will watch the playoffs religiously. I’m probably the anomaly though.

You're actually not alone. I'm a big college hoops guy being a Kentucky fan but I really start getting interested in the NBA during the playoffs. They just play harder during the playoff so it's way more interesting. I think the average basketball fan is like you in that they don't start really getting into it until the playoffs start because thats when everybody just takes their game to another level.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

What do you guys think is causing the decline in viewership?

3 things:

1- no more super teams
2- there is no more skill/ diversity. It's just 3s
3- thug life players. Aside from a couple white eurostars this group of players are fukking idiots and not role models. Ja w his guns, Ant w his 20 kids, Ball w his crazy dad/ family, etc. They're all tatted up wanna be thugs. It's not what Dad tells his kid to look or act like so Dad isn't putting this on TV.

Barkley, Jordan, Stockton, Bird...those guys had diverse skills and were on court role models for young men.

 

[jjgold]

The three-point shot has also hurt the game

 

[Wagerallsports]

3 things:

1- no more super teams
2- there is no more skill/ diversity. It's just 3s
3- thug life players. Aside from a couple white eurostars this group of players are fukking idiots and not role models. Ja w his guns, Ant w his 20 kids, Ball w his crazy dad/ family, etc. They're all tatted up wanna be thugs. It's not what Dad tells his kid to look or act like so Dad isn't putting this on TV.

Barkley, Jordan, Stockton, Bird...those guys had diverse skills and were on court role models for young men.

Nice summary

Lack of SuperStars now too

 

[jjgold]

Who wants to watch double team and another guy is wide open for a three point shot