Much has been made recently about the NFL’s dip in TV ratings, leaving some uncertainty about football’s stranglehold as the No .1 sport in North America.
And do you know which sport has been picking up steam in recent years, is flush with highly marketable superstars and started its season last night? That’s right, basketball.
Steph Curry might be the most popular athlete in the world with the highest approval rating, Kevin Durant just joined him in Golden State to boost an already record-winning team and LeBron James is making an argument as one of the best players ever.
There’s intrigue all over the league, with Russell Westbrook taking full charge of the Thunder, James Harden transitioning to point guard, the youth movement of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Knicks making a run for the playoffs.
With the NFL slouching due to oversaturation, fallout from concussion cases and weekly injuries, and yet another domestic violence scandal, this is the NBA’s chance to start its run at being America’s sports darling.
Remember, the NFL wasn’t always the top dog in the sports arena and there’s no rule that says it has to be. Baseball faded a few decades ago and this could be the start of football’s decline.
While this may just be a blip for the billion-dollar industry that is the NFL, it could be a cause for concern and there’s no way that the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t know that.
As for the 2016-17 season, here are our predictions.
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Cleveland
Boston
Atlanta
Toronto
Indiana
Detroit
New York
Charlotte
Chicago
Milwaukee
Miami
Washington
Orlando
Philadelphia
Brooklyn
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Golden State
San Antonio
Los Angeles Clippers
Portland
Utah
Houston
Minnesota
Oklahoma City
Memphis
Denver
New Orleans
Dallas
Sacramento
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Cleveland over Boston in six.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Golden State over San Antonio in seven.
NBA FINAL: Golden State over Cleveland in seven.
MVP: LeBron James, CLE
SCORING LEADER: James Harden, HOU
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Brandon Ingram, LAL
FIRST OVERALL PICK: Phoenix Suns