“A shame on the league!” NBA commissioner Adam Silver warned about going down ‘Democrat’ path by Colin Cowherd

Sports analyst Colin Cowherd warns NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about heading down the same path as the Democratic Party.

“A shame on the league!” NBA commissioner Adam Silver warned about going down ‘Democrat’ path by Colin Cowherd

The NBA seems to be sinking faster than the Titanic. Despite signing a massive new deal with TV giants like Disney, NBC, and Amazon this offseason, ratings continue to plummet. The league is in panic, and Commissioner Adam Silver is desperate for answers.

Sports analyst and host of The Herd, Colin Cowherd recently drew an interesting parallel between the NBA and the Democratic Party that caught people’s attention. Barraging the league over its out-of-control load management policies and uncompetitive All-Star games, Cowherd implied that there’s been a growing disconnect between the league’s players and its fans.

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Viewership trends indicate the same. TNT games average only 1.8 million viewers, while ESPN averages around 1.77 million viewers per game—significantly down from previous years. Initiatives like the NBA Cup have also failed to capture audiences.

Speaking on the same issue on his show, Colin Cowherd said:

The NBA, meanwhile, ratings are down 48% in the last 12 years, and they have fallen off a cliff this year and Adam Silver’s solution is let’s make the courts brighter. I like the NBA, but the All-Star game is now embarrassing, and I think load management is a shame on the league. It is a really bad look for a family of four to go to a game and Giannis doesn’t play or Embiid doesn’t play. I’m sorry. Go ask the Democrats. Once you detach from regular people in America, you will pay a price.

Colin Cowherd on the league’s struggles

The sports analyst then went on to compare the NBA to other prominent sports leagues like the NFL and MLB, revealing how difficult it is to run these organizations successfully. Using baseball as an example, he highlighted MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred‘s struggles to renew his TV deal due to the time-consuming nature of the game.

However, Manfred didn’t rest on his laurels. He worked to speed up the game, implementing changes like banning the defensive shift. As a result, MLB averaged 7.49 million viewers on Fox, hitting an all-time high viewership in the past seven years.

NBA viewership declines while Adam Silver stays in denial

Many former players, coaches, and fans have pointed out everything wrong with the league right now. From a lack of physicality to an over-reliance on a “three-point shooting” centered strategy, these factors have contributed to the monotony. However, Commissioner Adam Silver has denied that there’s anything wrong with the NBA’s “product” and appears to be living off his past glories.

In an exclusive interview with Cheddar, Adam Silver said in his defense:

I think we’re just looking at a couple weeks of ratings, there’s always some unique things. This year we were up against the World Series, Dodgers-Yankees, two very attractive teams, they brought in a big audience. You had a presidential election which was commanding an enormous amount of attention. So, I don’t think it has anything whatsoever to do with the style of play on the floor.

Adam Silver on the NBA’s declining viewership
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Today, the NBA faces a critical juncture. Whether the league chooses to address its declining viewership by reconnecting with its fanbase or continues on its current trajectory, the decisions made now will shape the future of this league.