'Who’s gonna be tuning in more to?' NBA athletes claim Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors draw more box-office than the Los Angeles Lakers

Although Jackson did admit that Theo’s argument had some truth to it, he did not exactly give up on his opinion:

I just don't know. Well, yeah yeah if we're talking about world, Lakers for sure but I'm talking about if you have a Lakers game on TV or you have a warriors game on TV, who's gonna be tuning in more to?

The debate reflects a larger conversation in the NBA community about the influence of star players like Stephen Curry and LeBron James on their teams’ popularity. While Curry’s revolutionary playstyle has been a major draw for the Warriors, LeBron’s consistent excellence and the Los Angeles Lakers’ storied history have cultivated a vast, loyal fanbase.

The Golden State Warriors have faced challenges this season, notably with Klay Thompson’s performance not meeting his usual standards. This has impacted the team’s overall consistency, influencing perceptions of their appeal in comparison to the Lakers, who recently won the first-ever NBA in-season tournament.

A closer look at the inconsistency of the Golden State Warriors

The Dubs’ journey this season has been marked by ups and downs. Despite Stephen Curry’s stellar performances, the team has struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Klay has been shooting only 37.7% from the three-point line, far below his 41.9% pre-injury. Draymond Green has been suspended multiple times this season owing to misconduct.

Aside from Steph Curry, no one from the Warriors’ original cast is living up to their potential. Even their last championship’s star Andrew Wiggins has been somewhat hot and cold, averaging a little over 12 points and 4 rebounds a game.

Despite these challenges, the debate about the Warriors’ and Lakers’ viewer appeal remains lively, with fans and analysts weighing in on whether Curry’s dynamic play or LeBron’s star power has a greater impact on viewership.