The NBA’s 2025 viewership is really really down. Here’s how I think they could fix it!

According to a recent yahoo sports article, “A month into the season, the NBA’s ratings are down 28% on ESPN…” (https://sports.yahoo.com/why-nba-ratings-down-big-141500434.html) Link to the article. The literal first game to this new NBA season, Bucks vs. 76ers drew in 1.71 million viewers. Which is down from 2.55 million for Celtics vs. Knicks in 2023. This fact is even more sad as at the start of the new decade the NBA’s opening day ratings have gradually been going down to the point where it was at this year. For example, the NBA’s currently lowest viewed and rated Finals all are in the year of 2020. Lowest? in 2020? This downward trend continued into the 2024-2025 season with a drop by 18% in viewership numbers compared to the previous year.

Several factors contribute to this decline: Changing Play Style. As the NBA increasingly relies on shooting three-pointers, the sweet science and art of basketball has changed a lot. Teams now average a record-low 37.4 long-range attempts a game, which leads to less physicality and fewer drives to the basket. This fact could make for a less enjoyable viewing experience for some fans. Passing of the torches. With iconic superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant hurrying toward the twilight of their careers, the league is uncertain as to who its next generation of stars will be. While Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama are among those hinted at, it remains to be seen if they can mesmerize the fans to the same degree as before. Viewer Fatigue. The overwhelming number of games, compounded by viewers saying a lack of competitiveness in some matchups, could lead to viewer fatigue. To address these issues and restore ratings, the NBA could consider the following solutions. Promote New Stars. Investing time and resources in marketing and promoting the personalities and backstories of up-and-coming players to build a connection between fans and the game’s next generation. Fan Engagement. This is such an easy fix, but will take some experimenting. My thought, leverage technology! To create interactive viewing experiences, such as watching games in VR, real-time statistics, and fan polls during broadcasts. Address Load Management. (load management is when a healthy player is rested to prevent injuries and improve performance). Encourage policies that minimize star players resting during nationally televised games, ensuring fans have the opportunity to see their idols in action. A big one in my books, expand partnerships with streaming platforms. The big thing I have noticed when attempting to watch the NBA recently is every game is on NBA TV or a local broadcasting channel near where the team plays. I can only watch a handful of games each week, as I only am able to see the top games ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBC show. However, with these handfuls of games it is usually the same grouping of teams. The big markets always get shown and none of the smaller market NBA teams do, which sucks as I’m curious about all NBA teams. Also, explore alternative content formats, like behind-the-scenes documentaries or player vlogs, to reach a broader audience. The ultimate fix would be a regular network on live TV streaming subscriptions, that show several NBA games at once. The NFL has accomplished this with their RedZone network, so there is no excuse the NBA can’t. All in all, I just want the NBA to feel exciting again. I miss how it was 10 sum odd years ago when I would be enthralled with all things NBA. I need the NBA where I would feel something during a random game in February, I need drama and awe to return! Thank you for reading my first blog post! Let me know your thoughts by commenting.