The Warriors, without Curry, will be nationally televised on ESPN four times over the next two weeksNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The NBA's TV partners are "still trying to assess the fallout from injuries" to stars like Warriors G Stephen Curry and Pelicans rookie F Zion Williamson less than three weeks into the season, according to Joe Reedy of the AP. Williamson's knee injury and Curry's broken hand have many "wondering if ratings will suffer." The Pelicans are on "either ESPN, TNT or NBATV" in 11 of their first 19 games. Ratings for last Thursday's game against the Thunder on TNT were "down sharply compared to the same window last season." The 784,000 average was a 60% drop from last year's Nuggets-Lakers game. How much of a ratings hit the depleted Warriors, who are also without G Klay Thompson and F Draymond Green, will take will "start to be known beginning this week." The Warriors "will be on ESPN" four times over the next two weeks. TNT is not "scheduled to air another Warriors game until Jan. 16." But that will "mark the first of 11 appearances until the end of the season." The NBA has "become more flexible with ESPN and TNT about scheduling changes, but in the case of TNT, there aren't many options since Thursday's schedule is light." However, "not all NBA ratings news is bad." The Lakers-Clippers opener on Oct. 22 was the "highest-viewed game of the week at 3.58 million while both of ESPN's games on Oct. 23 were up 9% and 12% from last season" (AP, 11/5).
WELCOME TO THE NEW AGE? SI.com's Jimmy Traina noted the injuries to the Warriors' core is "horrific news for the NBA's TV partners" because the team is "all over the national schedule." Including NBA TV, the 2-5 Warriors are "featured 40 more times this season." Taking out NBA TV, they are on ESPN and TNT 29 times. November alone will "see the Warriors on national TV six times" (SI.com, 11/4).
