• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Durant, Barkley, Redick Weigh In on NBA Ratings Decline

Redick blamed the media and Twitter, Barkley proposed a schedule change, and Joe Mazzulla questioned why it’s an issue.

Dec 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Lindy Waters III (43) shoots for three as Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (24) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum.
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

When commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the NBA’s ratings dip on Tuesday ahead of the NBA Cup final, he opened the door for others’ opinions on it. 

Silver stopped short of blaming the game’s heavy three-point style and instead pointed to the wider decline of cable nationwide as the reason for ratings being down 19% year over year. 

After beating the Nuggets on Christmas, Suns star Kevin Durant became the latest influential voice in the NBA to weigh in on the state of the game and its ratings. 

We know fans hate threes,” Durant said after his team hit 11 of them in a 10-point win. 

“I know how [the NBA] changes lives and inspires lives and does a lot for people, so I take this serious,” Durant added. “I’m locked into as to why people don’t want to watch us play no more. Why they don’t like the 3-point line, or what the real problem is. I’m trying to think about it and understand it because I love this game and I want to see it keep going.” 

Durant also was online late on Christmas night to reply to a vocal Clippers fan. “Ok so what is a good number of 3s to take?” Durant wrote. “Seems like u not totally against the 3 it’s just that it seems excessive to you. Whats the right number because I agree, balance is key… In the 90s they took bad midrange jump shots all game lol nobody cared.

“Hopefully, (fans) stay invested in the game, invested in each player, each team throughout the rest of the season,” Durant added. “Not just the playoffs or the finals. Games in January. I want to see the viewership get back up. League ain’t going nowhere, but we’re in a rough patch when it comes to that.” 

By speaking out publicly, Durant joined LeBron James, Charles Barkley, and a smattering of other personalities who have weighed in on the state of the game and how the NBA got to where it is, with some offering solutions on how to fix it.

James wasn’t asked about the league’s ratings, but used a question about the new All-Star Game format, which is now a four-team mini-tournament, to discuss his issues with the game at large. 

“Obviously the last couple of years have not been a great All-Star Game on Sunday night,” James said. “But it’s a bigger conversation. It’s not just the All-Star Game; it’s our game in general. Our game—there’s a lot of fucking threes being shot. So it’s a bigger conversation than just the All-Star Game.” 

NBA teams often copy the reigning champion, and the Celtics have doubled down on their three-point philosophy since beating the Mavericks in June’s Finals. The Celtics are averaging 51.1 three-point attempts per game, five more than the previous record held by Mike D’Antoni’s 2018–2019 Rockets. 

A year ago, the Celtics were the only team to score more than 40% of their points from three, finishing at 41%. This season, seven teams are scoring 40% or more of their points from three, with Boston leading the way at 47.5%, which would be a record if it holds. 

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla joked this week: “I add to that, I don’t watch NBA games. I’m just as much of a problem as everyone else,” saying he prefers to watch something different on his occasional off-night. 

Here’s where some other notable personalities have landed on the NBA: 

Lakers coach JJ Redick:I don’t think we have done a good job of storytelling, of celebrating the game,” Redick said Thursday. “If I’m a casual fan and you tell me every time I turn on the television that the product sucks, well, I’m not going to watch the product. And that’s really what has happened over the last 10 to 15 years. I don’t know why. It’s not funny to me.”

“This game should be celebrated,” Redick continued. “The league is more talented and skilled than it was 18 years ago when I was drafted. That’s a fact. There are more players that are excellent. There are more teams that are excellent.

“We don’t have anybody that’s willing to step up to the fact that this is an awesome game and we should talk about it and celebrate it in a positive way,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t critique it. We should critique it, but we should celebrate it. Nobody’s doing that, and the people that are have a small niche following on Twitter. And frankly, I would argue as well, that everyone in our ecosystem pays too much attention to what is said on Twitter. And part of this whole ratings discussion is because people on Twitter are talking about it.”

TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley: “I think we need to seriously consider starting on Christmas because, listen, you’re wasting your time going up against the NFL and college football; they own the weekends now. If we start at Christmas, there’s no other sports that we have to compete with. College football would be over, pro football is winding down, we’d have the entire calendar, late December, January, February, March, April, May, June to [ourselves].” 

Mazzulla:In the NFL, people aren’t like, ‘I want to see less scoring.’ They’re not going to make the end zones smaller. They’re not going to make the field smaller. Scoring is up across other sports. My question would be: Why, in basketball, is scoring being up an issue, as opposed to other sports? Does anybody want to watch a football game and see less touchdowns?”

Fox Radio host Colin Cowherd: “The three-point shot is boring and repetitive. Everyone plays the same. I would move the three-point arc into the bench, eliminate the corner, and move it back a foot. Make it part of the game, not the game.”

TNT analyst and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal:We’re looking at the same thing. Everybody’s running the same plays. … I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team is not a three-point shooter.”

Hall of Famer Magic Johnson:They don’t hate each other. I hated Larry [Bird] and every Celtic. … That’s what it was,” Johnson said on FS1 this week. “The Celtics and Lakers hated each other. It made for great TV and people tuning in. … Now everybody’s shaking each other’s hand. Everybody likes each other, won’t go at each other really hard. It’s gotta get back to that. And there’s a reason why the number, viewerships are going down. And these guys better wake up and say, ‘Hey, man. We gotta change this.’ And also, load management. The guys gotta play.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Kawhi Leonard

A Timeline of the Kawhi Leonard-Clippers-Aspiration Saga

Investigations into the Clippers’ business dealings with Leonard date back years.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.
Sep 14, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) gestures to a teammate after scoring against the Seattle Storm in the first quarter during game one of round one for the 2025 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Aces Surge From Collapse to Contention With Dynasty at Stake

The turnaround started after a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Las Vegas Aces

WNBA Playoffs Face ESPN Fall Crunch For Final Time

The games will be spread across three networks next year.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.

Tush Push Debate Heats Up in Eagles Win, Ex-NFL Rules Chief Sounds..

The Eagles are continuing to run the quarterback-sneak play.
September 14, 2025

Crawford-Alvarez Bout Draws Biggest Crowd in Vegas Boxing History

Record attendance, a big gate, and growing ambitions mark the high-profile bout.
September 14, 2025

Most NFL Home Teams Opt to Honor Charlie Kirk Before Games

Several NFL teams playing at home on Sunday recognized the late activist. Some did not.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
September 14, 2025

Low-Payroll Brewers Buck the Math, Clinch First MLB Playoff Berth

Milwaukee continues to defy its market size and economic constraints.
Premier Lacrosse League
September 14, 2025

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
Sep 11, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) dribbles past Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) in the second half at Target Center.
September 12, 2025

As WNBA Grows, Engelbert Says Its Playoff Field Won’t for a While

Eight of thirteen WNBA teams made the playoffs this year.
September 12, 2025

UEFA Delays Overseas Matches Ruling As LaLiga Miami Game Looms

Barcelona-Villarreal is scheduled for late December at Hard Rock Stadium.