Sports Illustrated reported that the NBA finals games 2 and 3 had the lowest recorded viewership in history.
Observer stated, “NBA Finals Ratings Tank to Historic Lows in Upended Pandemic Season.”
So it probably makes sense why NBA commissioner Adam Silver said this during an interview:
Rachel Nichols: The NBA has certainly been the most visible billion-dollar organization championing social justice and civil rights. As you noted in your press conference the other day, though, that has not been universally popular. How committed are you to being that going forward?
Adam Silver: We’re completely committed to standing for social justice and racial equality and that’s been the case going back decades. It’s part of the DNA of this league. How it gets manifested is something we’re gonna have to sit down with the players and discuss for next season. I would say, in terms of the messages you see on the court and our jerseys, this was an extraordinary moment in time when we began these discussions with the players and what we all lived through this summer. My sense is there’ll be somewhat a return to normalcy, that those messages will largely be left to be delivered off the floor.
And I understand those people who are saying ‘I’m on your side, but I want to watch a basketball game.’
I guess it’s all fun and games until you look at historic low viewership and empty arenas and realized just how much money you lost.
So the NBA is going to try to unring the woke bell and save themselves from going broke.
I wonder how well that will work if the players will accept that or not?
Can the NBA recover its viewership or has the sport killed itself as a multibillion-dollar enterprise?
I don’t know, but all I can say is “fuck em.”
I’m so disgusted with pro sports in general. I don’t watch a dang GAME for yet another woke moment. I watch for diversion of this sh*tty year we’re all trying to get through. Take it somewhere else – you are entertainers folks and if you can’t live with that, give up the big salaries and go get a real job.
I’m the exact same way. the Bubble was so hard to watch with the BS politics being thrown right in my face. I do admit, I did watch the Wizards the other night w/o the politics because I wanted to watch Westbrook. I am curious as to how NFL rating are this year. Anyone know? I not only have not watched one second because of the politics and because they threw my Redskins out, there have been a couple weeks I didn’t find out what how they did until about Wed. after.
After the baseball strike that pissed off fans in the 90’s most turned to football and basketball. Now the wokest sports are foot ball and basket ball will fans return to baseball or will everyone say screw it and turn to UFC and E-sports?
“Sports” the great PT was right- bread and circuses…
Never had interest. Now its been infested with liberals and the pc crowd. Everytime that liberals get ahold of something you can kiss it goodbye.
I am old enough to remember the Baseball strike of 1993 and it did not recover for 10 years, and some would say not fully.
This is going to harm NBA in a worse time, and worse way. Plus personalities are getting into harmful fights with each other
It may never recover
They finally reached equality. They have the same viewership as the WNBA.
I’m glad the viewership is down. I refuse to watch any professional sports except for Rodeo and sometimes, golf. I agree with everything you said in your article. Especially, your last comment. Outstanding job!
Right, like Lebron and his ilk will actually listen? Did Kapernick listen?
No, they are hyped on the power and media attention. (The money from endorsements does not hurt either.)
I hope the NBA disappears, and the rest of pro sports can follow along if they are too stupid to learn a lesson from others.
The best NBA related political message was the pro democracy activists in Hong Kong burning LeBron James jerseys.
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