The Los Angeles Lakers are probably the NBA’s most famous and widely recognized franchise, with millions of fans worldwide and a reputation that transcends the sport itself.
Still, the team isn’t really all that interesting without its two main stars, and that much has become obvious. In a piece by SportsMediaWatch.com, it is noted how far the Lakers ratings have dropped this season, largely in part because of injuries to the team’s two best players: LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
“With James and Anthony Davis both out due to injury, the Lakers’ blowout loss to the [New Orleans] Pelicans Tuesday night averaged 920,000 viewers on TNT — down 35% from [Houston] Rockets-[Milwaukee] Bucks on the comparable night in 2019 (1.41M) and the least-watched Laker game on ESPN, ABC or TNT since James joined the team in 2018.
By comparison, the Lakers’ previous game on one of those networks — James and company against the [Golden State] Warriors on ESPN March 15 — averaged a much healthier 1.29 million, up 11% from 2019 ([Indiana] Pacers-[Portland Trail] Blazers: 1.16M),” SportsMediaWatch.com.
Needless to say, the presence of King James and “The Brow” make up a large part of who the Lakers are right now. And, frankly, the team is hardly worth watching without them.
In a brutal and competitive Western Conference, there is no doubt that the Lakers will need everyone healthy if they hope to win the title this season. For their sake, let’s hope both stars come back fully healthy and ready to ball.
