Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James joined a long list of basketball personalities who have blamed the three-point shot for the NBA’s declining TV rankings.
But while previous remarks against the three-ball went unscathed, Bron’s comments caught the attention of popular podcaster Patrick Bet-David, who blamed King James for the NBA’s current woes.
“The NBA’s decline happened under your tenure. Period,” wrote Bet-David on X. “Blaming the 3-point shot for it is just you throwing shade at Steph Curry. Quite frankly, he’s been more exciting to watch than you.”
Ratings started their decline when MJ retired
Historical data, however, proves otherwise. The NBA’s TV ratings started to fall after the Bulls’ dynasty years, and LeBron was still in high school. What’s more, when James took his talents to South Beach, the NBA’s ratings shot back up, with Bron’s first three years in Miami the most watched seasons since the 90s.
The numbers started dropping again when LeBron returned to Cleveland, but the decrease wasn’t alarming. It wasn’t until after the COVID-19 pandemic that the decline has been significant, to the point that the figures are back to the 2000s level.
“He’s hands down the worst face of the NBA ever,” added Patrick. “He’s on the top 5 list. Respect him as a father, but he hurts the NBA brand immensely.”
NBA teams are worth more than ever
Bet-David didn’t explain how James has negatively affected the NBA brand. But the figures say otherwise again. During LeBron’s rookie season, the average value of an NBA franchise was $265 million. As of 2024, that number is up to $4.4 billion.
Similarly, the average number of three-point attempts per game per team has tremendously increased. When LeBron was a rookie, teams averaged 14.9 three-pointers per game. That number is now at 37.5 per game in the current NBA season. That’s what the issue is about, not Steph Curry.
As Shaq pointed out, not every team has a Curry — only Golden State does. Yet, despite the Warriors being the only team to win multiple championships by weaponizing the three-point shot, every other team in the league tries to copy their style. That, according to Shaq, is the real issue, and it seems to align with LeBron’s point — one that Patrick Bet-David completely missed in his critique.
