NBA Set to Return, But Does Anyone Care?

It's almost time for the NBA again, as all 30 teams tip off training camp Tuesday. The preseason is slated to begin in 11 days.

Now, the only remaining question is ... does anyone really care?

The NBA had a successful run in its Disney bubble, if you consider that the league reported zero positive COVID tests. But the season also generated the least-watched Finals series since groups began tracking television ratings in 1986.

Keep in mind, this wasn't just any Finals series. It featured LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, traditionally the NBA's two biggest draws.

You would have thought facing the Miami Heat, LeBron's former team, would have added to the intrigue, too.

Instead, the ratings went straight into the tank. No matter how the NBA and media tried to spin it, the ratings were an absolute embarrassment.

League officials have tried to blame the time of year on the fact most people ignored its return, saying no one really watches TV in August and September. They have also frequently added that the league had to go head-to-head, which generally kills everything else on television.

But the league's insistence on social justice overkill also played a role. Commissioner Adam Silver finally admitted as much, saying that for the 2020-21 season, social justice messaging will only be delivered "off the floor."

There's certainly nothing wrong with supporting human rights, but the NBA has always been selective in the social justice messages it supports.

Either way, ready or not, here comes the NBA. Will anyone give a hoot this time around?

Here's to guessing the answer will still be no.