WHAT’S KILLING THE NBA?
Every February the best players in the NBA meet for the NBA All-Star Game. The teams, West and East, usually play a half-speed brand of basketball, but it is still interesting to see the best pass the ball around the court. After the game, the players go back to their respective teams to play against each other. Or it used to be that way.
WEST
Several days ago, the Lakers signed Andre Drummond, the team’s third All-Star. With the absence of Lebron James and Anthony Davis due to injuries, Drummond will be the team’s centerpiece player. The Lakers, reigning champions, are only getting better. Is this fair to the rest of the West?
Flashback a few years ago to another superteam in the West – The Golden State Warriors. Golden State boasted one of the best starting lineups in NBA history, rolling with Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and even Demarcus Cousins for one season. Those Warriors won three titles before being brought down by Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors in Toronto. The Warriors still have not regained their dynasty form.
EAST
Thousands of miles away on the East Coast another team has a stacked roster – New York style. No, it’s not the New York Knicks. Think Brooklyn, whose glory days are reminiscent of Doc J and Vince Carter. But Brooklyn now has something to cheer for in the present. The Nets are flooring the best lineup in the NBA. Starters include Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Deandre Jordan as the sixth man. The Nets have two former MVPs in their lineup to go with seven All-Stars.
DIFFERENT ERA
In the old days of the NBA, superteams were unheard of. The Bulls had Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman, but Jordan was the clear alpha and Rodman was arguably a role player. Pippen did have success in the time that Jordan retired to play baseball. There were superduos in the NBA at the time. The Lakers had Shaq and Kobe, and Shaq had Penny Hardaway before in Orlando. The 76ers had Allen Iverson and Mutombo in the early 2000s, and the Celtics had Bird, McCale, and Robert Parish in the 80s.
Superteams began in the early 2000s when the Celtics with Allen, Pierce, and Garnett. The Celtics had success, including a title, but another superteam took over. The Miami Heat managed to compile a roster including D-Wade, James, and Chris Bosh. After two titles, they were beaten by the Spurs and the Mavs. Lebron then put together another Big Three in Cleveland, with Irving, and Kevin Love. The Cavs had limited success after one title and three defeats by the Warriors.
Ever since the Warriors defeated the Cavs a second time, NBA viewership has been down. If the same two teams play in the Finals every year, would you watch it? Some NBA fans don’t. After 2016, the NBA viewership has been down 15%, and in the 2020 bubble, the viewership hit an all-time low. Is it the controversy surrounding the NBA and China, politics, or are superteams hurting the NBA?
