Five Things the NBA Needs to Regain its Former Status

The 80s and the 90s spoiled NBA fans, we had a collection of the greatest teams squaring off every year captivating millions in the process. During this time there were many elite players through the league, and there were some teams that preformed at a lower level but not as many as today.

Here are the five things that I think could put the NBA on top.

§ Fewer teams
§ More players who complete two years or more at the college level
§ All star weekend
§ Natl coverage
§ Fewer games during the season

Fewer Teams

Since the '88-'89 season there has been by my count seven teams added to the league, the teams include The Bobcats, The Magic, The Griz, The Raptors, The Heat, The Hornets, and The T-wolves.

Out of these teams only The Heat were able to win a championship.

Shots out to The Magic for getting to the promise land twice, but close but no cigar. Keeping it real if I failed at my job for 20 years, I would have gotten fired 19 times at least or at least a demotion.

The NBA equivalent would be The Grizzlies relocating to the CBA alongside the Albany Patroons. This is nearly 20 years and some of those teams haven’t come close. By adding these additional teams and at least 84 more players to the league the leagues talent pool has become diluted. 

So if you add it up more elite players on fewer teams means more exciting games, and less lop sided blowout victories.

More Players Who Complete Two Years or More at the College Level

Many of the younger players in the league are still learning basketball in general. Now this process can be as fun as sitting in on Mrs. Arthur's 3rd grade class of six foot-something divas (actually a product of three or four years in college system learning the in's and outs of the game will make for more polished players).

With more highly skilled rookies the rookie of the year race, and the all-star rookie games would all be more exciting, not to mention the impact this would have on college basketball.

All-Star Weekend

All-Star weekend is largely the All-Star game on Sunday.

The dunk contest on Saturday night shows up every now and then but it has been largely M.I.A since the late 80s the dunk contest is hit and miss most years and most years the leagues most captivating dunkers are in the audience or on vacation instead of on the court.

Once again I"ll sum this up with one name J.R. Rider. Some years its Michael Jordan, but most years its J.R. Rider, or Harold Minor. The NBA should make the dunk contest voting 100 percent fan based.

Also the the only way of getting out should be injury. By doing this the fans would be more than less guaranteed to a show.

National Coverage

The NBA is only nationally televised on public TV on one channel ABC.

Cable and satellite broadcasts of ESPN and TNT offer coverage to those able to pay but the national public coverage still pales in comparison to NFL coverage which on any given

Sunday has all three major public networks playing games. this is not much of a issue to the millions of current NBA fans but when trying to attract new viewers I'm thinking the more visible your brand is the better.

Fewer Games in the Season

Two games fewer per month for a total of 12 fewer games a year. This would help to create more of a sense of urgency, games can be more evenly scheduled, players can be more rejuvenated,and the overall this can help extend the careers of players as they get further in their career.

Think of it this way: if Lebron played 12 fewer games a season by now he would have had a total of 84 games off that works out to a little over a season now imagine how Shaq and other players in the latter stages of their career would benefit,and once again think of what a good product this would produce.

By making these changes NBA basketball can become the No. 1 sport in the USA and pickup ground on soccer internationally, or at least i think so.