The NBA Is Dying. Here’s How You Fix It.
It can still be saved.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has transformed and changed the world. It has brought together many generations and bridged the diversity of American culture. It is an art that takes years and decades to excel. Basketball and the NBA has become a global ambassador and a symbol for peace and prosperity. Kim Jong Un, the North Korean dictator requested Dennis Rodman to be included in the nuclear deal.
He is a fan of the Chicago Bulls and I bet he would love to watch an exhibition here in the US.
Throughout the 80s and 90s, NBA teams sold out arenas before the season opener and fans couldn’t wait to see the first game.
Boston Celtics, LA Lakers, and the Chicago Bulls dominated those decades and future hall of famers gave 100% every game during the regular season and the playoffs
It was a time where if you combined teamwork and intelligence, any team had a shot to win a championship. An era where you couldn’t predict who would win the playoffs or which superstar would demand a trade.
I wish I lived that era, so I could’ve enjoy watching Michael Jordan face the Boston Celtics.
For the last decade, millennials and younger generations have lost the joy of watching basketball. You could literally predict which two teams would face each other in the championships. It is boring to watch a game when you know one team is up by 30 points in the beginning of third quarter.
Small market teams, such as Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies, draft a talented player and in a year or two, they demand a trade. This is bad for the NBA and it decreases the balance between teams.
It is not fair that large market teams lure players with money and other incentives. Why did Kevin Durant join the Golden State Warriors after he lost to them in the playoffs?
The NBA is a dying league but I believe anything can be fixed before a recession hits. In order to bring back the competitiveness and athleticism, the NBA should fix these issues now.
Cut the age restriction
If a player is a talented, he should have the opportunity to enter the draft. Why should he waste a year or two playing in the NCAA? College teams, such as Duke and North Carolina have basically become a rental place where athletes spend one year just to pass time. Zion Williamson brought in millions of dollars for Duke in 2018 and he could’ve easily dominated in the NBA. As long as the player has a high school diploma, they deserve a shot in the NBA.
Combine video games with live NBA games
Imagine if you could sit in your apartment and play fortnite with friends and watch NBA games on the same screen. How awesome will that be? As technology evolves throughout time, the NBA must find a way to recruit younger fans that are increasingly spending majority of their time indoors. They scroll through Instagram and Snapchat throughout the day. And whenever they have an hour of free time, they compete with their friends in Fortnite and other video games. NBA should sign an agreement that gives the option for fans to watch the game and play video games on the same screen. That way, they can enjoy live NBA games and be entertained.
Shorter season
Another way to boost fan engagement is to shorter the regular season. The league has too many games and most of the players will not play 100% in every game. Start players, such Stephen Curry and Kwahi Leanord have been injured lately and their bodies are breaking down every game. A shorter season would benefit the fans, players, and media outlets. It is a challenge for fans to watch games every other night and shorter games could lead to more engagement and attention.
