As one of the defining players of his generation, Kevin Durant has made it his mission to understand why the NBA’s viewership is in decline. In a recent chat with the media, the former MVP revealed that he’s “locked in” to figuring out a solution.
“It’s a weird dialogue around the league and viewership and I see a lot of people blaming the players for it. Something that big, it’s not just one component on why it’s going that way,” said Durant via Duane Rankin. “It’s more than just one factor on why this league is great and it’s not just the players why it’s great and it’s not just the players why the viewership is not up. We all play a part in why the league is what it is. Us in here, the people that were in the stands tonight, players on the floor, we all play a part in pushing this league forward. I played for a city in Oklahoma City that didn’t have an NBA team and you’ve seen the impact that an NBA team has on the city and your state. I know how important that is, I know how it changes lives. It does a lot for people. So, I take this seriously. I’m locked in as to why people don’t want to watch us play.”
NBA Christmas Day was a massive success for the NBA with an 84% increase in ratings compared to last year. Unfortunately, this season as a whole has seen an overall dip in viewership across the board and it’s sparked several conversations on the NBA’s biggest issues right now.
For Kevin Durant, the blame doesn’t lie solely with the players. The NBA process involves many people in many different roles, and it’s likely a combination of things that has led to the league’s backslide in popularity.
Still, Kevin knows how important the game is to so many people and he wants to do his part to help make the product more enjoyable for fans. The question is, what kind of changes can be made that will get more eyes on the games?
Many have blamed the three-pointer, and believe that the overdependence on perimeter shooting has made games more similar to each other and more predictable than ever before. It’s unlikely to happen, but some have proposed some ideas to limit attempts from beyond the arc.
If you ask Durant, he says that fans should embrace the new era of the game. In his mind, the problem isn’t about unlikable stars or an oversaturation of threes. Rather, the issue with the NBA is an overcritical fanbase that will never be satisfied.
It remains to be seen what the NBA will do to bring up the ratings, but Durant is giving the fans plenty to be excited about with some of the best basketball of his life right now (27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists). As long as legends like him, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry are still active, people will be watching.
What comes after they retire is anyone’s guess, but Durant and other NBA vets have already given their approval to the next generation of basketball stars. If they can pick up the mantle where Durant left off, and the NBA can market them appropriately, we could see the ratings start to trend back in the right direction.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
