Bobby Burack
Videos by OutKick
The NBA took another L Friday.
Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Heat utterly collapsed with just 4.5 million viewers. The embarrassing average is down — wait for it — 68% from last year’s Game 2, which featured a team in Canada.
How bad is the number? It’s the least-watched NBA Finals game on record. Dropping even below Game 1’s 7.41, the lowest-viewed Finals opener in history.
There is no way for the media to spin this positively. Declines of this magnitude are unheard of. Then, factor in the tank-job occurring with the league’s biggest individual and team draw in the Finals — the NBA is officially a disaster.
A ship doesn’t sink for one reason, but undoubtedly, politics sit atop the historical tank.
After nearly two decades of reinventing the NBA discussion, LeBron is now a detriment to the league’s brand.
With misleading social statements, lying about putting human rights before his brand, bowing to China, refusing to comment on the shooting of two police officers, paying for fines so felons can vote (for Joe Biden), and craving celebrity worship — LeBron now alienates more viewers than he attracts.
The NBA’s new self-inflicted identity is written in ink. Millions of turned-off Americans associate the NBA with radical politics catered to only a minimal number of sports fans.
How much lower can the ratings drop? Find out tomorrow.
NBA? Who cares? Would rather poke my eyes out than watch LeBron and the NBA. Let them move to China.
That’s a really good idea. If China is where the NBA’s future is, let them move on over there. Let’s see how long that would last.
Bobby, thanks for the info. It just confirms that between the light being shed on BLM Marxists, the China hypocrisy, and LeBron’s constant spewing, a large chunk of America said FU to the NikeBA.
NikeBA is nice!!!
You can check the article from Ryan Glasspiegel from 2 days. I said over/under 4.5 million views. Damn I’m good haha
The NBA must be ok with this political posturing because their next CBA negotiations are not for a few years, and the league probably feels it can weather the PR storm until it fades. I think most die-hard NBA fans will support the league no matter what. It is the casual NBA fan (who watch primarily during the playoff and Finals) will take years to come back.
LeMao….reap what ye sow
As predicted…the Nothing But Assholes is getting the proverbial uppercut to the nads. Let em flounder on the canvas for the 10 count. Not even Jacob “Stitch” Duran can sew this mess of mismanagement
back together again!
68% drop from 2019 Finals Game 2 which included a Canadian team? How much more rejection by fans can the NBA take?
Good. Eff em.
Lebron James is the worst thing to ever happen to the NBA
The more Lebron centric the league becomes, the less interesting I find it. Politics aside I’ve never been a big fan of his game. He’s boring to watch. He has every physical tool in the world but was annointed king of the game far too early (still in High School) so he lacks the scalding intensity of a Bird, Jordan, or Kobe. Its just not a good product anymore unless you’re watching purely for the athleticism, which is off the charts good. But the lack of hustle and intensity is killing the game. Polar opposite of college football, which just keeps getting better every year.
I believe the NBA is setting up for some extended scheduling in China. Lots of money there and the NBA will NOT condemn the CCP human rights atrocities. Pretty simple plan forward for these cowards in my opinion. Money is their god.
The NBA needs to learn contempt fir viewers is a poor incentive to have them tune in.
We fans love the game and love the athletes. That is why I had the NBA Pass since LBJ was in Cleveland the first time. But I will not renew it when I am getting lectured, falsely in my judgment, for how I am allegedly feeling.
Black Lives Matter- we are in, unfortunately, violent agreement as our cities burn. the NBA is not helping they are making things worse. I have watched the viewership decline from the 20s to the 30s to the 40s and now this 68% decline.
How much lower is the NBA willing to go before they see they are self-immolating?
We are a loving country
We are a loving people
Reach your hand out in metaphorical friendship with your fans, that is what ultimately will succeed and viewers will be open to what you have to say and return to the game.
“ohhhh, to be like Mike” The best BLM jingle ever
Next season will be the real test, if they keep bringing in the politics and ratings stay down even when they’re not competing against football and whatnot that will pretty much tell the story,
I clicked on the video on the Outkick story about James walking off the court before the game was over. Hell, the whole team walked off except for the four left on the floor. What a d-bag.
I haven’t watched the NBA in decades. The dumbing down of the game into a 3-point/slam dunk contest to inflate the scores did it for me and now that the NBA has become the domain of ignorant racists. It’s boring and toxic.