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In a recent segment on the 'BIG' podcast, former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal gave his take on why NBA viewership numbers have been trending down recently. According to Shaq, it all has to do with the modernized playstyle which revolves heavily around three-point shooting.
“It’s down because we’re looking at the same thing. Everybody’s running the same plays. At the damn top of the key dribble handoff," said Shaq. "I was talking to a coach yesterday and he said 'They want to shoot 50 threes'. Because they were trying to contemplate if I could play in this era. They said 'Shaq if you would just shoot 50 threes' and I'm like 'well how much you wanna make?' We wanna make 10 or 15 of them.' I was like 'Well that's not gonna help you win but I think everybody's looking at the same thing and Steph Curry and those guys messed it up. I don't mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes but every team got a three-point shooter, so why everybody has the same strategy? I think viewership will continue to go down unless we switch things up."
Three-point attempts are at an all-time high and it's only going up. This season, through the first few weeks, the league average is already at 106 made three-pointers on 296 attempts. Players are letting it fly from deep more than ever before and the impact of this popular trend might be felt in the form of dropping viewership and fan numbers.
In truth, the NBA had been trending up for years but something changed recently where the numbers are going down. This season, after a promising opening night, viewership has taken a sharp decline with ESPN reporting a 42% drop in their opening night audience.
Nobody can be sure of the reason for the trend, but Shaquille O'Neal believes that the three-point revolution is to blame. With the three-ball being more popular than ever, it has simplified offenses and limited variety in playstyles across the league.
Where we had teams before who utilized different strategies to win, pretty much every relevant team lives and dies by the three-pointer, which can often become stale, repetitive, and downright boring for fans to watch over and over again.
Unfortunately for the NBA, there's no way for them to address this issue -- that is if they see it as an issue at all. Unless they move the line back or implement some other system to limit three-point attempts, teams will only be looking to further incorporate it into their offense.
As we see with the Celtics, Warriors, Suns, and Cavaliers, teams who can consistently hit from distance have a massive advantage over the field and it's why every GM and coach in the NBA is leaning so heavily on the three-pointer.
If the NBA really wants to continue growing its audience, it might need to start setting some rules in place to encourage a variety of approaches to the game. Nobody wants to see teams just jack up threes all day, especially not when it's been happening for years already.
No doubt, Shaq wants to see a return to dominant big men and interior post-play, two things that have been somewhat lacking in recent years.
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Nikola Jokic’s agent causes stir with post about LeBron James
Nikola Jokic’s agent certainly knows how to stir the pot. Misko Raznatovic, the Serbian sports agent who represents the Denver Nuggets star Jokic, sparked a frenzy over social media this week with a post about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Raznatovic posted a picture to Instagram of himself on a boat along with both James and James’ longtime business partner Maverick Carter. Tagging both James and Carter in the post, Raznatovic had the location as Saint Tropez, France. He also included the caption, “The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!” As for Jokic, he is still under contract with the Nuggets through at least 2027 (with a player option for 2027-28 as well). There also no indications that Jokic is unhappy in Denver, particularly with the Nuggets making some big win-now moves this summer. Despite their playoff battles in years past, James and Jokic share a strong relationship of mutual respect. Now it appears that Jokic’s agent is toying with the possibility of recruiting James to Denver for the 2026-27 season (assuming that James would still like to continue his NBA career by that point).
Cowboys make questionable move amid Micah Parsons stalemate
The Dallas Cowboys extended one of their stars Sunday, just not the one fans wanted them to pay. At Cowboys training camp Saturday, Dallas fans serenaded owner Jerry Jones with "Pay Micah [Parsons]" chants. The EDGE, of course, is set to play on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract this season. Jones must not have been listening. He gave tight end Jake Ferguson a new contract instead. Dallas and the 26-year-old pass-catcher agreed to a four-year, $52M contract extension, via NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. This move seems head-scratching. Parsons has won the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods since the Cowboys took him with pick No. 12 in the 2021 NFL Draft. The 26-year-old EDGE also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Ferguson, meanwhile, is solid but not elite. In three seasons with the Cowboys, the 2022 fourth-round pick has made one Pro Bowl and has never finished with more than 761 receiving yards in a season. An extension for Parsons will devour future cap space. The Cowboys may be worried about that after giving quarterback Dak Prescott (four years, $240M) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (four years, $136M) long-term deals in 2024. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt signed a lucrative three-year, $123M extension on July 17, making him the league's highest-paid non-QB. Parsons could command a similar contract. If cap space is Dallas' primary concern, however, why would it extend Ferguson? He's now set to be the NFL's seventh-highest-paid TE. The Cowboys waited to extend Lamb and Prescott just before the start of the 2024 season. They may be doing the same with Parsons. The star defender has said, "Ownership is always gonna make [contract negotiations] drag out." Regardless, the Cowboys should've paid Parsons before Ferguson. That's a much bigger priority for the team.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
Mets Could Steal Massive Star From Their Biggest Rival
In 2024, the New York Mets may have pulled off the biggest jersey swap of all time- acquiring massive free agent Juan Soto on an enormous 15-year, $765 million deal. However, this shouldn’t be the end of the line for New York. The team still has money, and perhaps they can use it to pay for a massive star. Big-Name Free Agent Could Be on the Radar for Mets The Biggest Bat on the Free Agent Market May Not be Kyle Tucker Sure, Kyle Tucker is a younger player with some superstar potential. Some might say that he is a superstar. However, the one very consistent bat is the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Over the last five seasons, Schwarber has hit at least 32 homers. This season is no exception, as he is on pace for 57 home runs. Schwarber strikes out a lot. However, his at-bats usually end in either a homer, a strikeout, or a walk. Schwarber remains one of the most significant game-changing bats on the market. He is heading into his age-33 season, but he reminds many of a Nelson Cruz-type bat. A bat that can last well into the late 30s. Tucker may be a good defender and a possibly excellent bat, but consistency remains on the side of Schwarber. The Mets Shouldn’t Stop at Alonso and Soto Now, the Mets may very well have to contend with another free agency of Pete Alonso. However, if the Mets have learned anything this season, they probably won’t hesitate to sign Alonso, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off the market. This will leave the Mets with options in free agency. Go big or play it safe and improve minimally. The Mets typically aren’t used to liking Schwarber, who seems to always be on a rival team. However, this doesn’t mean that it is impossible for him to pry away from the Phillies. Sure, the Mets can be content with the signing of Soto and, hopefully, also Alonso. But if New York wants to make the best team ever to play in Queens, New York may very well want to go after some of the bigger names on the market. If many people thought the Mets were in contention for Vladdy, then they can definitely be in contention for Schwarber. The Mets also don’t have a definitive DH, and even with some saying Soto is a potential DH in the future, Soto will likely continue to play the outfield. Schwarber would be a dream DH for New York. Schwarber Will Not Be Easy To Sign, But Neither Was Soto If there is one thing that many have learned over the last few seasons, it is that the Mets don’t just settle. The Mets have made huge trades, huge signings, and more. Schwarber has made it relatively clear that he likes Philly, and even his teammates have expressed that they want him to stay. And of course, Philly is capable of providing the money for Schwarber to stay. However, New York is even more capable. If the Mets make a good trade ahead of the deadline, young players live up to their potential, and the Mets make a big splash in free agency, then New York would be virtually unstoppable. It used to be the New York Yankees that got everything they wanted. Now, there might be a new sheriff in town. The Mets are starting to turn the corner and are becoming the new juggernaut in New York. Perhaps the Soto signing was just the beginning. Signing a free agent away from a bitter rival wouldn’t be easy. However, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time for New York.
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