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By A Truth Be Told Contributor

The National Basketball Association (NBA) experienced a 5% decline in television viewership for the first half of the 2024–2025 season compared to the previous season (Front Office Sports). While many believe the drop in viewership is due to the declining quality of games, this is only part of the reason for the decrease.

One contributing factor is the perceived lack of effort from players. Sports journalist Darryl Harding Jr. of News Talk New England commented on this shift in gameplay: “The game has evolved into more three-pointers than twos and less defense, which makes the game less appealing. So although I believe tracking ratings is harder in the streaming era, there also is most definitely a decline in viewership due to the product the NBA is currently producing.”

Harding also points to a second reason for the drop in traditional television ratings: the rise of streaming platforms. The NBA has increasingly embraced digital platforms such as YouTube TV, Hulu, and Prime Video to reach younger audiences. As a result, some fans have abandoned cable altogether in favor of streaming.

“It’s become a routine for me to watch NBA games on YouTube TV now. I don’t watch them on TNT anymore. I’m only subscribed to streaming services in my apartment now anyway—I don’t have cable,” said Moses Malloy, a Howard University student and basketball fan.

While many people attribute the decline in television viewership solely to the quality of the games, it is clear that the rise of cord-free streaming services has also played a significant role.