This season, there has been lots of talk about the drop in NBA ratings on television. Many have had various theories on why those ratings have been down, ranging from too many 3-point attempts, homogenized halfcourt offenses, load management and too much competition from other sports and events during the fall.
While viewership was down significantly early in the season — according to Sports Media Watch, it was down by about 20% at the time — it rebounded afterward. After the trade deadline, viewership increased by 16% compared to prior to the deadline, excluding opening day and Christmas games.