Small Market? Not A Worry Now: How The New Era Of NBA Superstars Are Redefining The League

News18

a day ago

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The NBA Finals so far have delivered beyond expectations, with the series stands tied at 1-1 currently, with the spoils for the best among the Pacers and the Thunder to take.
An unlikely NBA Finals matchup between two rivals who have never been to the promised land. But one that the game needed and deserved.
For a long time, basketball, especially the NBA, was ruled by dynasties. From the Showtime Lakers to the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls to the new-age Golden State Warriors, the game witnessed multiple eras defined by clear-cut winners who were head and shoulders above the rest.
But the new era of players in the NBA has redefined the game and the competition, with this year marking the seventh year in a row that a new champion shall be crowned, a first-ever in the history of the league.
'I'm really encouraged about what we're seeing here in terms of the level of competition and really the openness of the competition. Going into the playoffs, you could have picked any number of teams that could have made it to this point. And I think that balanced competition is good for fans around the world. You're getting to see different players emerge again, to see different teams emerge, and it doesn't necessarily mean the end of dynasties," stated NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum in a global media roundtable.
'At the end of the day, what we sell is competition. When you look at the parity that exists in the league, you know this is this again, the 7th NBA champion in seven different seasons. That's the first time that's ever happened. And what we're seeing is that interest in the NBA has never been greater. So the more fans, the more teams who think that their team has a chance going into the season, we think, is better for the NBA."
Albeit a first-time matchup, the seeds for the rivalry this season in the NBA Finals, though, were sown years ago.
Back in 2017, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was about to enroll at Kentucky and Tyrese Haliburton was preparing for his senior year of high school in Wisconsin, the Indiana Pacers traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder, acquiring Domantas Sabonis in return. In 2019, the Thunder traded George to the Los Angeles Clippers for a package that included Gilgeous-Alexander. Later, in 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis to the Sacramento Kings for a package that included Haliburton.
Many a fan may have had reservations about what having two relatively small-market teams in the Finals would entail for the league and its popularity.
But, in the eyes of the NBA, the level of play has spoken for itself, and in turn, has yielded historic results in all facets.
'What I would say to the two small markets is that market size is not as significant a factor as it once was in driving fan interest," Tatum stated.
'I'd also say that while traditional TV viewership, you know, certainly maybe influenced by market size, we've seen strong viewership throughout these playoffs for both big and small market teams.
'Our opening weekend was the most-viewed opening weekend of the playoffs in 25 years. Our Eastern Conference Finals was the most-viewed Eastern Conference Finals in seven years."
'Overall, our numbers from the playoffs this year are up, you know, versus last year. And on top of that, our social and digital engagement is at a record level. So, because of digital and social media, our teams, their star players, regardless of what market they play in, these players are household names and not just across the US but globally. So these players have playoffs, have delivered some incredible basketball, and I expect the Finals to drive interest from a global audience."
Well, the Finals so far have surely delivered beyond expectations.
With Haliburton leading the Pacers to a scintillating steal of Game 1 and OKC's Gilgeous-Alexander punching back with a dominant 34-point performance in Game 2, the series stands tied at 1-1 currently, with the spoils for the best to take.
Game 3 shall take place in Indiana on June 12.