You guys talk about TV, but don't talk about TICKET PRICES. The cost of attending a game with the Rockets or Grizzlies visiting is substantially cheaper than attending a game Bron is playing in. Some of these small markets only draw their own fans but don't bring fans to the sport. For instance the Hornets play the Grizzlies on April 8, nosebleeds are 28 bucks. Dirt cheap. Tickets for the Hornets Lakers on January 27 start at $128 for nosebleeds. That don't got shit to do with viewership. It has to do with DEMAND. Many of you guys teams and players simply aren't DRAWS. You don't sell merch, you don't draw fans, you don't bring engagement off the court. You just have a good regular season record THIS YEAR, but that doesn't make you headliners over all time greats that have been doing it well over a decade and still play at a high level. OKC and Cavs was on national TV and got little discussion in here. I just think we gotta be realistic. The networks are in the business of making money.
I do think they can give more games to certain teams, but this idea if you put the Magic on ESPN 20 times, fans will be more interested in Paolo over Kevin Durant isn't realistic. These players have to sell themselves and make us want to be engaged in their story.