I don't think it has anything to do with NBA pushing league pass ABC purposedly starts their coverage after Christmas TNT switched from Thursdays to Tuesdays cuz of Thursday night football I think things will be better once college and pro football seasons end. Right now...football owns monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday nights Add to that lack of compelling American stars in the NBA, the west games starting at 10 PM or later, and the NBA having a younger fanbase that is ok watching highlights on youtube...the ratings are explained
A more recent problem with the NBA is that many star players are sitting out saving themselves for the playoffs. Back in my day that was unheard of. (Angry old man shaking his fist*)
He is in the limelight lately but it has been happening with other players too over the last 7-10 years. The Spurs made it fashionable on their Playoff runs.
With a long season (82 games) and playoffs (16 to 28 more), if you really don't need your stars on the field, there's a lot of incentive on not pushing your injured players back in action, specially early in the season. IIRC, back in the 1970s, there was one fewer round in the playoffs, and until about 10 years ago, the first round was best of 5. I also recall that, when they had their playoff berth already in hand, the Spurs rested several of their starters for the last few games of the regular season, and also teams giving some weeks off to those who played with their national teams during the summer.
Honestly Im fairly sure all sports leagues seem to be seeing a decline. I think a big part of it is the overall trend of on demand streaming services, you have tons of shows that you can binge watch and all at your fingertips anytime you want. If you look at the past that wasn't the case, now you have so much entertainment that it probably hurts live sports a lot more. For soccer in the US I think stories like Atlanta is a big success, I think there are lots of overall trends at work but it definetely looks like MLS has grown a ton and is reaching levels that weren't really expected by a lot of people.
🚨🚨🚨According to @CLMerlo, Roger Martinez has rejected the DP offer from Inter Miami. He doesn’t want to play in MLS and would rather go to Europe. https://t.co/tOkMPCYMAg— MLS Buzz (@MLS_Buzz) December 12, 2019 Smart
Sebastián Driussi y Sebastián Villa están en el radar de Inter de Miami, cuyo dueño es David Beckham. Ya tiene los pases de Julián Carranza (Banfield) y Matías Pellegrini (Estudiantes) pic.twitter.com/e9WdINScBz— VarskySports (@VarskySports) December 11, 2019
¡QUIEREN AL JUGADOR TIBURÓN! ¿🦈🛫🇧🇷⚽?Víctor Cantillo es el deseo del Corinthians y el equipo brasileño con un representante en Colombia buscará su fichaje https://t.co/0DWAcIp9yj— Deportes RCN (@DeportesRCN) December 15, 2019
They're going to regret selling him for so little, but its great for his career. This guy needs to be challenged, he's got a lot of talent but the clock is ticking.
Nashville SC have signed Colombian U-23 center back Miguel Nazarit, sources tell https://t.co/QqWAi38GbI. Nazarit, 22, last played for Once Caldas though his contract expired and he signed as a free agent with Nashville.https://t.co/NvZuuiO2Yr— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 16, 2019
Chará será negociado com a MLS. Não fica no Atlético-MG, nem vem para o #Inter. Ainda não sei o clube. Atacante era pedido de Eduardo Coudet para o 2020 Colorado.— Alexandre Ernst (@Alexandre_Ernst) December 16, 2019
Emanuel Reynoso y Sebastián Villa son los jugadores que le interesan a Inter de Brasil para ingresar en la negociación por Paolo Guerrero— Luis Fregossi (@LuisFregossi) December 19, 2019
Atención Galera, Junior negociando con Porto de Portugal por Victor Cantillo. #TemporadaDeHumoJSB— JuanSalvadorB (@JuanSalvadorB) December 21, 2019
Please yes, and of course its Porto who would scout Colombian league and find amazing value. How other teams in Europe haven't tapped into the Colombian gold mine while Porto keeps getting value is insane. Cantillo and Uribe playing side by side in midfield would be a big asset, if Cantillo can move up to Barrios back up (he should be imo) getting those two to understand and play together along with Diaz is a big asset. Then hopefully Muriel and Duvan get lots of time together and we gonna be set.
Muy cercano a jugar en el Portland de la MLS está el jugador colombiano Yimmi Chará.Esta y otras noticias en @VBarCaracol— Diego Rueda (@diegonoticia) December 22, 2019
If he helps Portland win another MLS cup he and his whole family will never have to pay for food or drinks ever again in that soccer loving city.