The NBA’s Comeback to TV
By: Crystal Best
The National Basketball Association, better known as the NBA, has been around since 1949 with a merger of two basketball leagues that were established only three years prior, according to this link. The NBA was something new and exciting to the usual baseball and football games that played on TV. It grew to popularity during the late 70s and early 80s.
But recently it seems to be falling in views. Especially from the hit of Covid and them having to go into the bubble. Though even with the drop, it seems the NBA is trying to change some of the things about the sport to bring back the attention that they deserve. With these changes the NBA could be better than ever.
The NBA Viewership since the 2000s to now. Photo credits: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsmediawatch.com%2F2023%2F04%2Fnba-ratings-viewership-past-30-years-analysis-where-league-stands%2F&psig=AOvVaw3TxKoA6XHmXoRUJmhcRurn&ust=1736876354052000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLiIr-Ke84oDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAZ
Some of these changes being another change to All-Star weekend and the recent addition of the NBA Cup.
Photo of the logo of this year's All-Star. Photo credits: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nba.com%2Fnews%2Fsan-francisco-to-host-nba-all-star-2025&psig=AOvVaw20TOGd8SqdH5uRRFM9xSZP&ust=1738164369579000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCNDhzIDdmIsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
All-Star Weekend
All-Star weekend is the NBA’s version of Pro Bowl weekend for the NFL. It’s filled with the popular stars from the NBA and celebrities playing competitions and enjoying the fun of the sport. Giving the players a small break and time to have fun right before the trade deadline.
The first game happened in 1951 at the Boston Garden, which is the home place for the Boston Celtics. This was the start of All-Star, and since then a lot has changed. For one it’s now a weekend with other events, they started televising the picks, and celebrities now have a game that they play.
For the first day not much has changed from this year compared to the last. The Celebrity and Rising Star games are still happening along with Hall of Fame news. The second day, again, not much has changed other than they took out where they shined a spotlight on the WNBA with the three point contest.
Probably the biggest change of the All Star Weekend is the All Star game in itself. Whereas last year it was the same East vs. West team conference game with someone voted popular by the fans to be captain. This time it will be set up as a mini tournament. According to the NBA, this will be a setup with four teams of eight players. All of the players selected will be drafted into a roster by the TNT crew as their general managers. The general managers will be three of the four crew members. Making the last team composed of the winner of the Rising Stars championship.
Making this even a more reason for people to watch since everyone wants to see the usual fight between Shaq and Charles Barkley. Kenny Smith instigating the fight more and also saying his jokes. Also knowing that whoever wins the bragging rights will obnoxiously show off to the rest making for a hilarious moment.
This form of All-Star could bring back the attention that the games used to have and possibly give attention to the games a part of the season after the All-Star weekend is over.
NBA Cup
This season was the second year of the NBA Cup. A new playoff version comes in the middle of the season giving the players a chance to earn some more money and we see some more competition earlier in the season rather than later in the season.
This was brought the season prior to try to bring back viewers who only watch Playoffs and bring new viewers into watching the NBA with the new competitive spirit that they added.
The NBA Cup is essentially called the In-Season tournament. It starts off with pool play going against different teams in each different group. The teams in each group with the best record and two who came in second of the group move onto the eight team knockout round. This will all be single eliminations going onto the semi-finals and then championships, giving the winning team of players a bonus.
All the wins and loses up to the semi-finals count towards all the teams records. The only game that doesn’t is the championship game.
Our own state team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, even made it to the championship of the NBA Cup, though we ended up losing to the Milwaukee Bucks (97-81). It showed other teams and the rest of the world that the Thunder is an actual threat and competitor.
Though the NBA seems to be on decline it slowly is starting to rise. They are putting in ways like the NBA Cup to try and attract new viewers while also still keeping what makes Basketball so great to watch and enjoy.
The NBA is evolving just like the world is; nothing and no one can stay the same forever. If everything were to stay the same, how would time be able to move forward? How would we as human beings learn from our mistakes and become better people all around. In order to do that
To get you started on watching the NBA try watching All-Stars or even try to support our own basketball team The Thunder as they make another run for winning the ring, this time with a better chance than ever.
