Menu
NBA Season Preview

NBA Poised For A Big Season With Superteams, Superstars Spread Across League

The '16-17 NBA season tips off tonight, and the campaign "has the potential to be like no other," as there is a "superteam in the West, a megastar in the Midwest, superstars all around the league, ... global popularity at an all-time high, more revenue than ever and labor peace looming," according to Brian Mahoney of the AP. The record-setting Warriors will be "must-see TV again" with '14 MVP Kevin Durant joining two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry. Meanwhile, Cavaliers F LeBron James is on a "Jordan-like run, looking for a seventh straight trip to the NBA Finals." Former NBA Commissioner David Stern use to say the NBA "was in its golden age," but the league under current Commissioner Adam Silver "may be shinier" (AP, 10/24). THE RINGER's Bill Simmons writes the NBA has "matured into a marketable, profitable, forward-thinking and massively entertaining cash cow." Major markets are willing to "share their revenue spoils with smaller markets," while players "gobble up endorsements, sneaker deals and worldwide attention no matter where they play." Silver's "innovative leadership" and a "newer class of owners provides a stark contrast to everything happening in the NFL." Additionally, a "fan-friendly style of play ... makes those ugly Pacers-Pistons playoff series feel like they happened 50 years ago" (THERINGER.com, 10/25).

MAKING THE JUMP: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's John Lombardo cites sources as saying that the NBA "expects to reach" $8B in revenue this season, marking a 23% jump from the $6.5B in revenue for the '15-16 season and a 54% increase from the $5.2B in '14-15. While new media-rights deals with ESPN and Turner have "fueled much of the rise, the league has enjoyed growth at the gate, in sponsorship sales, and nearly every other key business metric." The revenue gains "come during a period that also saw skyrocketing franchise values and the addition of new leaguewide sponsors." Sources "put the league’s gate" at roughly $1.5B with combined total team sponsorships at about $600M, with about $500M in league deals. Local media deals account for about another $650M annually. While the league’s domestic business "has yet to run out of runway, its international push continues to pay off as well." For example, the NBA is entering the second year of a five-year, $700M deal with Tencent "for live-streaming rights in China" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/24 issue).

MOVING ON UP? The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Ben Cohen wonders if there is a day coming "when the NBA surpasses the NFL." The NBA has "some of the biggest stars in sports" and their fans are "young, diverse and tech savvy." There has been such an "explosion of money in recent years that players and owners now find themselves on the brink" of a CBA that will ensure labor peace. Conversely, the "future of the NFL isn't quite so clear." The result of basketball’s "cultural boom and football’s undeniable erosion is a cautious optimism around the NBA that once would’ve been unthinkable." It is "remarkable in its own right that the NFL is on the radar of NBA decision-makers." Their league is still "billions in revenue and millions in television viewers behind." However, because of "forces in both sports that have converged in recent years, the NBA can reasonably dream about a future in which basketball, not baseball or football, is the premier American sport" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/25).

TRIM THE FAT: NBA.com's David Aldridge wrote he hopes "shortening the preseason" will be one of the reforms Silver "will continue to push." The only reason it is as "long as it is right now is money: the league wants to get as many teams abroad as possible to prime the pump in those markets (merchandizing, TV rights, etc.); teams stateside want to sell multiple exhibition game tickets to their season ticket holders as part of their packages." Aldridge: "I know what coaches need; they tell me, every year: four preseason games would be more than enough for them to get ready for the season" (NBA.com, 10/24).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/10/25/NBA-Season-Preview/NBA-League.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/10/25/NBA-Season-Preview/NBA-League.aspx

CLOSE