Changes, by Tim Shea

Wow! How things have changed!. There was a time when, at this specific moment in the basketball season, my mind was solely focused on the various Pro league Finals happening around the globe. The ACB in Spain, the Euro League, and of course, the NBA. Not anymore. But…there is a but

Indeed, as historians would confirm, the game has, to many, been, and I don’t use this word lightly, plagiarized. Honestly, I miss the basketball of yesteryears where the TV was the anticipated, in living color, gateway to live, great contests. I reflect on those epic “Finals” featuring the Boston Celtics versus the Los Angeles Lakers or the Detroit Pistons against the Chicago Bulls, and even the CF Real Madrid clashing with FC Barcelona in their country Finals.  

Remembering those legendary figures like Magic Johnson, MJ, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Tim Duncan, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, along with Fernando Martin and Audie Norris, not to forget the greats before them like Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, and Walt Frazier and Earl ;The Pearl” Monroe, all evoke a sense of nostalgia and memories of skills and expertise that, judging by current trends, may never be seen again. Indeed, that era of basketball, filled with those exceptionally skilled positional players—true Pivots, versatile Forwards, specialized Shooting Guards, and authentic Point Guards—now feels like a distant memory.  

Today’s game is largely dismissed by the older generation, who have turned their backs on it and refuse to invest their time watching it, viewing it as an aberration. The current style has ushered in a different, more “wide open” form of basketball where even the classic two-point shot is looked down upon. It has, unfortunately, become a reality that the “stat-men” nearly ban its use! Believe me when I say they sadly have become the true monarchs and rulers of the game.  

Let’s delve into the specifics of how these changes have impacted audience participation since the year 2000. 

In the year 2000, the NBA Finals achieved a household TV rating of 11.6, which corresponds to a 21 % share of all U.S. TV-owning households. 

By 2025, ratings have fallen significantly.  

Game 1 logged a 4.7 rating 

*(Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals averaged a 4.7 rating and 8.91 million viewers on ABC, making it the least-watched Game 1 of the Nielsen meter era (since 1988) outside of the league’s COVID-19-fueled ratings nadir in 2020 and 2021, according to Sports Media Watch). 

Game 2 a 4.5 rating, and  

Game 3 a 4.8 rating, all reflecting some of the lowest ratings in Finals history!!  

This represents an Overall drop of U.S. household TV viewership for the NBA Finals has decreased by roughly 60 % since 2000!! 

60% !!!! 

Which leads to the question of: 

Why has the % of audiences for the NBA Finals decreased so dramatically?   

I think it can be traced to several key factors: 

(But maybe it’s not as bad as it seems). 

 

Changes in media consumption 

 

The Shift in entertainment preferences 

 

The Globalization of the audience 

 

Matchup dynamics and star power 

 

The Changing measurement methods 

 

We must look at, “What has changed in the NBA game since 2000” as the  

NBA game has acquired a dramatically different dynamic.  

I offer a detailed breakdown of what’s changed: 

 

Style of play 

Three-point revolution 

Pace and spacing 

Decline of isolation post play 

 

Analytics and strategy 

 

Player roles and versatility 

 

Defense 

Technology & development 

Globalization of talent 

 

Entertainment & culture 

It is important to highlight that in recent years, the NBA has shown a diminished focus on the National (USA) market, instead directing its attention towards the international market. This shift somewhat explains the decline in the American TV ratings, as these ratings do not account for the worldwide audience. For instance, it is known that there are millions watching in China. The metrics from the past, much like the basketball of earlier times, are no longer relevant. It is as straightforward as that. 

Like Bob Dylan wrote, “Things Have Changed” 

An excerpt: “People are crazy and times are strange, I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range, I used to care, but things have changed…” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EKqQWPjyo