

If they don’t want to hear it then don’t watch.” “We’ve been going through this for not just the past six months but for four hundred years. “Look this is our message,” Mitchell said of his many statements regarding racial equality. Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell echoed Silver’s statements during the team’s restarted season in Orlando. “And I think that given the circumstances, I still firmly believe it was and is the right thing to do.”ĭonovan Mitchell had a simple message for those upset at the league's social messaging: Last week during his annual pre-Finals address, Silver said he understood the complaints of those turned off by the league’s political voice but is happy with the league’s message. While ratings might be down as a result of the league’s shift towards politics in this election year, the NBA and it’s players seem to be comfortable with their newly assumed role. The league lost hundreds of millions of dollars from Chinese advertisers this season after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for protestors in Hong Kong, but the NBA appears to close to fixing its marriage with the country, an important step for the league’s finances and global appeal. After a year-long suspension from China’s CCTV, the state-run broadcasting system aired game five of the Finals last week to more than a billion viewers across the globe. Though it won’t be reflected in the domestic ratings, the NBA’s relationship with the Chinese government appears to be on the mend. New Story: Inside why the narrative about declining NBA ratings due to social justice messaging is all wrong.

Whether the league’s increased political commentary is to blame, or the unusual restart calendar, midday start times, or widely available illegal streaming option are hurting viewership, the NBA needs to resolve the issue if it wants to continue to grow both nationally and globally. The NBA has seen a sharp decline in ratings from previous seasons, even with superstar LeBron James returning to the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, which should have drawn increased numbers. Though the league merged healthy on the coronavirus front, it’s far from stable when it comes to ratings.
#Nba bubble professional#
VTohfAStMSīetween ultra-aggressive (and expensive) testing, detailed health protocols, and strict punishments for players who broke those protocols, the NBA found a way to effectively eliminate the threat of the virus from derailing the remainder of the season.ĭespite worldwide paranoia, questions from players, fans, and media, commissioner Adam Silver’s ambition and expertise exceeded all expectations in Orlando and laid the groundwork for all professional sports leagues in the country to return to action.

Leroy Sims on how the NBA has had so much success battling Covid-19 in Orlando. "The reason that we've gotten to this point is because we've stuck to our protocols.” spoke with NBA VP Medical Director Dr. With fears over how the coronavirus was spread, the integrity of the bubble, and the potential for catastrophic spread of the virus in Orlando, there wasn’t a single positive test from league personnel who entered the bubble. Bubble Success #1: Healthįirst and foremost, the greatest success of the NBA bubble was that no NBA player or coach contracted coronavirus in Orlando.
#Nba bubble full#
While our full understanding about the successes and failures of the NBA bubble won’t be known for months, and potentially years due to pending discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement, and the uncertainty of the league’s immediate future, it is fair to examine the immediate wins and losses of the league’s restart and conclusion.

After a season marred by a troubled relationship with China, the untimely death of Kobe Bryant, and a four and a half month hiatus due to the coronavirus, the NBA found both success and failure while finishing its postseason in the ultra-ambitious bubble campus in Orlando. That’s not a cause for celebration, but rather a recognition of the longest, most tumultuous season in league history. SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 2019-20 NBA season is (finally) over.
