- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 463,794
- Reaction score
- 44
LOS ANGELES — There’s a reason the NBA has jammed the Lakers-Timberwolves series into every premier television slot it has in its arsenal over the past week and a half.
This is what people want to watch.
Game 1 in Los Angeles and Game 4 in Minnesota were both slotted into the sparse, prestigious ABC broadcast slots.
Game 3 was a Friday night, ESPN affair.
It’s a stark contrast from even three years ago, when Minnesota’s first-round matchup with Memphis was regularly pushed to the side and shown nationally only via NBA TV broadcasts.
And sure, the opponent has a lot to do with that. The Lakers are one of, and maybe the premier brand in basketball. Los Angeles features global superstars in Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
But even that’s not enough to deliver the types of numbers Game 4 received in this series. That thriller, won 116-113 by Minnesota on Sunday at Target Center, averaged 7,345 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Round 1, Game 4 contest ever across ESPN platforms.
ESPN announced the broadcast peaked with 10,274,000 viewers by game’s end. That’s 32% better than last year’s Clippers-Mavericks game played in the same slot. That contest, too, featured Doncic, as well as Kyrie Irving and Paul George.
This is different.
Because Minnesota brings its own star power to the stage in the form of Anthony Edwards.
The guard is a major attraction. Even casual viewers are drawn to the 23-year-old’s energy. There’s a special excitement derived from watching a player equally capable of splashing numerous contested triples as he is dunking on a 7-footer.
Edwards backed down James on a play in Sunday’s win, and then turned, rose and fired a pass to a wide-open Julius Randle under the hoop for a layup. The immediately started yelling in the face of James while repeatedly putting his hands on the all-time great.
“Just letting him know that we’re going to be here all night,” Edwards said, “and I’m going to be a pest to him.”
Edwards did nearly the exact same thing in last year’s first round to Phoenix forward Kevin Durant. He doesn’t bow to the game’s legends, he puffs his chest out to them.
Everyone eats it up. It’s difficult to not view these moments in a broader context, that there is a significant shift within the NBA. LeBron, KD, and maybe even Steph Curry in the not-so-distant future, step aside, there’s a new star in town.
For years, the league has heavily leaned upon its now aging stars to bring eyeballs to the product. A concern was an apparent lack of a next wave of household names who can drive attention.
These playoffs are yet another reminder that Edwards can be that guy, even if he doesn’t want to be. It was a major topic of conversation over all-star weekend in February when Edwards said he didn’t want to be the next “face of the league.” Instead, he suggested 21-year-old Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama take on that role.
“I’m capable of being that guy, but I don’t want to be that guy,” Edwards said NBA TV. “Put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
But that’s just not how it works in pro sports. The more fans fall in love with you, the more they want to see you and learn about you.
Frankly, Edwards may not want the microscope. His off-the-court record certainly isn’t clean, from his personal choices to the $370K in fines he’s racked up for technical fouls, language and gestures this season alone.
James, who has shouldered the primary load as the league’s face and de facto spokesman for two decades now, later said he understands Edwards’ position, adding there’s a “weird energy when it comes to that.”
“Ant said he don’t want it. Obviously, I didn’t ask for it, but I knew there was a responsibility for me, not only to my family, (but) my friends, my community and whoever that was gonna follow my journey throughout my career,” James said. “I’ve always taken that seriously and understood from the beginning what being a professional was all about and being a role model is all about. So, I tried to hold that with the utmost respect and honor.”
Continue reading...
This is what people want to watch.
Game 1 in Los Angeles and Game 4 in Minnesota were both slotted into the sparse, prestigious ABC broadcast slots.
Game 3 was a Friday night, ESPN affair.
It’s a stark contrast from even three years ago, when Minnesota’s first-round matchup with Memphis was regularly pushed to the side and shown nationally only via NBA TV broadcasts.
And sure, the opponent has a lot to do with that. The Lakers are one of, and maybe the premier brand in basketball. Los Angeles features global superstars in Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
But even that’s not enough to deliver the types of numbers Game 4 received in this series. That thriller, won 116-113 by Minnesota on Sunday at Target Center, averaged 7,345 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Round 1, Game 4 contest ever across ESPN platforms.
ESPN announced the broadcast peaked with 10,274,000 viewers by game’s end. That’s 32% better than last year’s Clippers-Mavericks game played in the same slot. That contest, too, featured Doncic, as well as Kyrie Irving and Paul George.
This is different.
Because Minnesota brings its own star power to the stage in the form of Anthony Edwards.
The guard is a major attraction. Even casual viewers are drawn to the 23-year-old’s energy. There’s a special excitement derived from watching a player equally capable of splashing numerous contested triples as he is dunking on a 7-footer.
Edwards backed down James on a play in Sunday’s win, and then turned, rose and fired a pass to a wide-open Julius Randle under the hoop for a layup. The immediately started yelling in the face of James while repeatedly putting his hands on the all-time great.
“Just letting him know that we’re going to be here all night,” Edwards said, “and I’m going to be a pest to him.”
Edwards did nearly the exact same thing in last year’s first round to Phoenix forward Kevin Durant. He doesn’t bow to the game’s legends, he puffs his chest out to them.
Everyone eats it up. It’s difficult to not view these moments in a broader context, that there is a significant shift within the NBA. LeBron, KD, and maybe even Steph Curry in the not-so-distant future, step aside, there’s a new star in town.
For years, the league has heavily leaned upon its now aging stars to bring eyeballs to the product. A concern was an apparent lack of a next wave of household names who can drive attention.
These playoffs are yet another reminder that Edwards can be that guy, even if he doesn’t want to be. It was a major topic of conversation over all-star weekend in February when Edwards said he didn’t want to be the next “face of the league.” Instead, he suggested 21-year-old Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama take on that role.
“I’m capable of being that guy, but I don’t want to be that guy,” Edwards said NBA TV. “Put it like that. I want to be the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
But that’s just not how it works in pro sports. The more fans fall in love with you, the more they want to see you and learn about you.
Frankly, Edwards may not want the microscope. His off-the-court record certainly isn’t clean, from his personal choices to the $370K in fines he’s racked up for technical fouls, language and gestures this season alone.
James, who has shouldered the primary load as the league’s face and de facto spokesman for two decades now, later said he understands Edwards’ position, adding there’s a “weird energy when it comes to that.”
“Ant said he don’t want it. Obviously, I didn’t ask for it, but I knew there was a responsibility for me, not only to my family, (but) my friends, my community and whoever that was gonna follow my journey throughout my career,” James said. “I’ve always taken that seriously and understood from the beginning what being a professional was all about and being a role model is all about. So, I tried to hold that with the utmost respect and honor.”
Related Articles
- Is this lineup the Timberwolves’ clutch-time solution?
- Despite 3-1 series lead, Timberwolves aim to match Lakers’ desperation in Game 5
- How Anthony Edwards shot the Timberwolves back into Game 4, then helped win it
- Dane Mizutani: Was that Anthony Edwards taking the torch from LeBron James?
- Another comeback for the Timberwolves, this time to go up 3-1 on the Lakers
Continue reading...
