Who watches the NBA?

[BB73]

Charlotte actually led the NBA in attendance for several years in the 90's, until the Hornets owner (Shinn) ruined the team. I think once the expansion team gets to .500 in the standings, they'll do OK in attendance.

 

[Thump]

Charlotte actually led the NBA in attendance for several years in the 90's, until the Hornets owner (Shinn) ruined the team. I think once the expansion team gets to .500 in the standings, they'll do OK in attendance.

Their attendance went down after Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning left town. Which in turn killed their record.

 

[cincibuck]

Maybe I'm trying to beat a dead horse here, but so WHO watches the NBA? I grew up watching each sport in season and had a real affection for each. I see evidence in your responses that many of you grew up in the same manner, but it's clear that most of us are casual fans of the NBA at best. I let go of NBA basketball in the 70's, baseball in the 90s and I don't watch half as much pro football as I used to, but I watch all the college football I can and in that sense that you you see yourself as Joe Everybodyelse I wonder how these other sports keep going. I just don't see or hear from anybody who really watches the por basketball game and yet, there it is, taking up huge amounts of tv time and evidently getting along well without me. Someone must be watching...

 

[NightmaresDad]

People under 30, and especially urban teens and young adults.

i loooove baksetball, that's why i can't stand to watch the NBA. Starting with the Pistons of the early 90's - the game went right down the tube.
It's getting better, but now there are too many teams and the skill level is really diluted. the infusion of European players is really helping, though.

 

[souL]

I do love me some Chicago Bulls basketball. Even when I had to suffer through '98-'04...

The NBA is at the bottom of the barrel in terms of sporting events I love to watch. I can't even stand watching a game for more than 10 minutes if it's not the Bulls.

Basketball is big by my where I use to live, but that's because I used to live in Chicagoland (see: urban environment). Now that I went south and east into IN, the popularity has dropped off.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I watch my fair share of NBA. I watch the Cavs everytime they are on.

The people that watch the NBA are usually the hip-hop urban culture type people. The ones that are on the streets playin' ball all day. The inner city kids, b/c that is most of their dreams. I mean I have played with kids that call it the "League" as they say He will make it to the league or something to that effect.

No offense to some of these kids, or NBA players if you want to call them that b/c they are so young, but that is all they have. Some wouldnt make it in to college and bball is all they know.

I think that with the emergence of some young stars the game could really be saved. I think the league is really eating up this whole Shaq vs. Kobe thing and that is helping out. Also I think Lebron will be able to hold the league a float all by himself if need be. I also think the NBA is very popular overseas as you see that Yao was the leading vote getter in the all-star game and we all know that it wasnt the americans that were voting for him.

I think the league needs to also stop promoting players like Tim Duncan. Yes he is a hell of a player, but when he gets the MVP every year and people tune into to watch him play he is the most boring superstar I think I have ever watched play. The NBA has some young stars they just need to develop.

I also think that if the age limit gets instituted that the game will be better off. Half of these damn players can't shoot a lick. I don't understand it. It ain't that hard to shoot a damn basketball especially when you live in the god damn gym. All they want to do is dunk the ball. The NBA just ain't pure bball which is why I believe less people tune into to watch it, but I think if the players would do some fine tuning to their skills in college and with the euros coming over it could really help the game.