Bill Simmons has sparked a lively debate by claiming that LeBron James and Stephen Curry are both the solution and the problem behind the NBA’s current viewership struggles. On his podcast, Simmons highlighted the league’s overreliance on its aging superstars, arguing that their dominance in primetime slots, while boosting short-term ratings, hinders the promotion of younger talent critical for the NBA’s long-term success.
“There’s been so much what’s wrong with the NBA stuff. The Steph LeBron thing last night was the solution and the problem at the same time. Because it was the same thing for the Olympics too, right? It was awesome watching those guys. Hey, the old guys, look at it, they still got it.”
“But it’s still coming at the expense of everybody else. Like even yesterday, it’s in that eight o’clock, it’s in the best spot, it’s after football’s over, and that’s the signature game, and it’s basically two 500 teams, and it’s guys that have been in the league since 2003 and 2009 respectively and yet OKC wasn’t on Christmas Day.”
“Giannis wasn’t on Christmas Day. Wemby was buried at the beginning of the day and this is like you’re kind of doing this to yourself but at the same time I get it because Steph and LeBron was awesome.”
“You could go glass half full, glass half empty on it but the fact that the Steph-LeBron game was so good and sucked up so much oxygen from the day is actually kind of part of the problem.”
The Christmas Day matchup between James’ Los Angeles Lakers and Curry’s Golden State Warriors drew 7.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular-season game in five years.
However, Simmons criticized the NBA’s decision to prioritize this game over showcasing rising stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder or Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. He noted that both teams, despite having better records and dynamic players, were left out of primetime. Even rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama’s game was buried in an early timeslot.
NBA ratings have declined by 18% year over year (excluding NBA TV) and are down 48% compared to 2012. While the league touted the success of Christmas Day, which saw a slight rebound in ratings, the overall trend remains concerning.
Fans have attributed the decline to various factors, including load management, the oversaturation of three-point shooting, and a lack of compelling rivalries. Simmons pointed out that the reliance on older stars like James, Curry, and Kevin Durant exacerbates these issues.
LeBron James, who turns 40 in a day, and Curry, who entered the league in 2009, are nearing the end of their careers. Yet they remain the most marketable players, overshadowing younger talent. Simmons warned that this imbalance could have dire consequences once these icons retire.
Simmons emphasized the need for the NBA to foster new rivalries and invest in emerging stars. Players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Antetokounmpo possess the talent to captivate audiences, but they lack consistent primetime exposure. Simmons contrasted this with the well-established James-Curry rivalry, which had years to build before culminating in epic Finals matchups.
While Simmons acknowledged that James and Curry still deliver exciting performances—evidenced by the thrilling Lakers-Warriors game that ended with Austin Reaves’ game-winning layup—he urged the league to start planning for the post-LeBron and Curry era. Without new stars ready to take the reins, the NBA risks losing even more viewers.
The NBA must balance leveraging its legendary players while cultivating interest in the next generation. Showcasing players like Antetokounmpo, Edwards, and Wembanyama in marquee matchups can help build the rivalries that fans crave. Simmons suggested that taking short-term risks with ratings might ultimately yield long-term rewards.
Simmons’ critique highlights the NBA’s current predicament: while James and Curry remain the league’s most bankable stars, the overreliance on their rivalry could leave the league ill-prepared for their eventual departures. The NBA’s future hinges on its ability to transition from its legendary past to an exciting new era.
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