NBA Lockout: What Are the Implications of a Lost Season on the League?
This past June, many fans thought the NBA couldn’t get much better. One of the most exciting playoffs in recent memory came down to an exhilarating matchup between the Heat and the Mavericks. In the end, Dallas won the title and Dirk Nowitzki, one of the game's biggest stars, cemented his legacy.
And then there was nothing.
No action, no effort, no decisions. Just the two sides of the NBA labor disagreement waiting to see what would happen next.
When the sides finally came to the table, the pressure was already on and the negotiations were far from close. It was only a matter of time before we started to lose games.
And now, the only court we’ll see the game’s biggest stars in will be the court of law. With impending lawsuits in Minnesota and New York, there may be no NBA basketball whatsoever this season.
Unfortunately, most of us now understand the incompetence and greed on both sides that led to this ridiculous situation.
What we don’t know yet is what this lockout really means for the NBA.
First, there’s the obvious monetary damage done by the loss of games in respect to selling tickets and TV revenue.
Then there’s the backlash from the players, who are not offering the best publicity for the NBA. While no one ever thought both sides were best friends, now it seems as if the divide between the players and the owners has never been wider.
How can you have a great product if your most important employees absolutely despise you?
Finally, there’s us, the fans. What do we think about all of this? For the most obsessed basketball fans, the loss of the season is devastating. However, as soon as the NBA does return, the loyal fan base will be there waiting for them.
But what about the casual fan? What about the people who were inspired by the Mavericks playoff run and were waiting to see what would happen next in the drama in South Beach?
Revitalized fan bases in New York, Chicago and Memphis who were more than ready to support their teams, will now lose a great amount of momentum if an entire season is gone.
How on earth could an entire season lost help anyone in the end?
Sure, one of the sides could come away with a much better deal, but at what cost? At a time when many Americans are struggling just to make ends meet, these millionaires and billionaires can’t get on the same page long enough to bring joy to the millions of fans that support them.
Clearly, the MLB learned from the NBA and made quick work of their labor agreement. I don’t think any sports league wants to emulate the process of negotiation the NBA has taken.
How much damage the NBA has done to its image has yet to be seen. However, you can be certain that any fans that were not yet fully convinced of the NBA, could be turned away for good.
Quite frankly, when there is still the NFL, as well as an exciting season of college basketball, many sports fans will find their entertainment elsewhere.
Perhaps the NBA shouldn’t worry about those who are visibly upset, but rather those who couldn’t care less.
When so many people show so much indifference in an entire season lost speaks volumes to the work that still needs to be done in the NBA to expand its fan base.
And anyone can tell you that canceling your season because you can’t decide how to divvy up $4 billion in revenue is not a good start.
