The crowd will buy what you sell if you sell it well. If not, things will start looking like the NBA ratings. Yikes! Not the greatest comparison there, but just enough for Adam Silver to wake up from his slumber. Oh, the Commissioner is anything but lazy; he’s already doing everything he can to elevate the viewership. Surely, that 11-year $76 billion media deal could change the trajectory of the league forever. Until then? Well the less said, the better.
But in his obsession with recycling the same old megastars, the league keeps benching the next-gen assassins like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And if that pattern holds, the damage to the league’s soul might be far worse than a dip in ratings. So, Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo finally took their swing at the Commissioner and honestly, it felt long overdue.
Adam Silver faces the harsh reality of his decisions with the next generation of teams
Everyone will likely focus on the ratings, as they are expected to be dismal tonight. It will be remarked, This is the lowest Sunday night rating we have seen since a certain time, due to the game being decided in the third quarter. It involves two small markets,’ Bill Simmons stated on his podcast. ‘These are two teams with which we lack significant familiarity. Moreover, it is a league that we have frequently discussed on this podcast, which has consistently failed to promote the next generation of teams, as they keep featuring the old stars repeatedly in the most prominent positions.
The disparity in media development and visibility between big-market teams and small-market teams is astonishing. The more prominent the stars, the more substantial the exposure. For instance, when LeBron James transitioned from the Cavaliers to the Lakers, he faced accusations of deliberately targeting a larger audience while abandoning the smaller one. However, true stars cannot remain hidden; if this trend continues, Adam Silver must consider the impending challenges, beginning with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
In the meantime, Russillo noted, ‘He [SGA] is a very reserved individual. He is an excellent choice to represent a franchise, as he avoids unnecessary drama. Yet, sometimes, that very drama attracts attention. We all seem to enjoy a bit of excitement, and this league has gained popularity in a manner that is distinct from other leagues. I am not referring to ratings, but rather to the everyday awareness of it. Certainly, you and I are deeply immersed in it, so perhaps we are not the best indicators of this.
What Russillo suggests is that the MVP for 2025 is a star characterized by a lack of drama. He is well-suited for teams, yet may not possess the charisma that attracts mainstream interest. In the NBA’s culture, which is heavily influenced by drama, personality often enhances popularity more than mere performance. While the typical NBA drama stimulates fan engagement, teams like OKC and Indiana operate without the surrounding noise—focusing solely on the essence of basketball. This is beneficial for the teams internally, but the absence of off-court stories leaves the wider audience with little to engage with beyond the championship title.
For those secondary viewers, there’s likely a sense of tedium. They might think, ‘Oh, so their top player is exceptionally efficient with pull-up jumpers.’ The free-throw situation hasn’t really been a concern. I don’t believe it has been an issue at all. The third quarter tends to be a free-throw spectacle for both teams. However, there isn’t a prominent, engaging personality present.” This is indeed a matter that the Commissioner ought to consider. Casual fans often find the Finals uninteresting due to the absence of vibrant personalities or dramatic elements. Even with efficient stars and ‘fair’ officiating, the lack of compelling narratives or recognizable figures makes it challenging to attract broader attention.
Furthermore, the issues that Simmons and his guest discussed on the Bill Simmons Show stem from Shai’s interview with Malika Andrews. A perplexed or somewhat philosophical Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has left experts pondering.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s interaction with ESPN’s Malika Andrews might be a new concern for the Commissioner
Malika Andrews sat for a conversation with the freshly declared MVP of 2025. As many might’ve guessed and hoped that the interview would be technical, stat-driven, and self-promotional. Instead, it was baffling and philosophy heavy. Sounds unprecedented? Maybe, at least Simmons feels so. Did you see that interview with him where he got asked a question, and he did the deep sigh and searched for the answer for like 10 seconds? It was pretty interesting, he said.
Simultaneously, Ryen Russillo raised the question of whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an understated and low key MVP, can genuinely attract national interest. He made comparisons to the entertainment industry, indicating that shows do not fail due to a lack of talent, but rather because of inadequate promotion. In the realm of sports, star power and marketability frequently hold more significance than mere skill or understated excellence. He criticized the inclination to hold leagues accountable for waning interest, as evidenced by baseball and the WNBA. The underlying message is that even with increased visibility, not every star connects with a broad audience. If fans are not engaged by SGA or OKC, the issue may not lie in marketing it could stem from a lack of interest. At times, this is simply an unavoidable reality.
Thus, the NBA’s biggest challenge isn’t just the ratings it’s finding stars who truly captivate beyond the court. While Adam Silver’s media deals offer hope, the league must balance spotlighting established icons with nurturing fresh faces like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Without compelling personalities or narratives, even the best basketball risks losing the broader audience.
