LeBron James might be the most unpopular player in the NBA this year, but chances are, you’re watching him, anyway. Just as ESPN’s broadcast of The Decision drew almost 10 million viewers and was one of the highest rated cable broadcasts of the year, the numbers are in for the first half of the NBA season, and the LeBron James effect is pretty unmistakable, and nowhere moreso than Miami.
The LeBron James Effect? NBA Ratings Soar In Miami, Plummet In Cleveland
How do you quantify the presence (or lack thereof) of LeBron? Sports Business Daily reports:
James’ Miami Heat has posted the biggest local TV ratings increase of all NBA teams through January, more than doubling last year’s mark: up 118 percent to an average rating of 5.40 on Sun Sports. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers, the team James left after last season, has seen the biggest decrease, with Cavs games on FS Ohio dropping 53 percent to an average rating of 4.07 through Jan. 31.
But rather than ask ourselves the obvious question--why do douchebags always win?--let’s focus on the rest of the ratings. For instance, what the hell is wrong with Clipper fans?
While the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz lead the league in ratings--predictable, considering the lack of competition in those markets--it’s pretty amazing that the Clippers are second-to-last in the entire league, and don’t even draw a 1 percent share in ratings.
DON’T THOSE PEOPLE REALIZE THEY GET TO WATCH BLAKE GRIFFIN?
I guess that’s what happens when incompetence has browbeaten fans into ambivalence over the course of three decades, but still. Clippers fans should enjoy this while it lasts. And as for the Charlotte Bobcats, who draw just 11,000 households for each of their games? Come on.
That’s less people watching on TV than most teams draw in-person, and if there’s ever been a better argument for contraction, I haven’t seen it. It’s not to say that Charlotte can’t or won’t succeed, but jeez. Clearly, something isn’t working. Or maybe the NBA could just clone LeBron James?
That would be a total nightmare. But... We’d probably watch, wouldn’t we?
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