John Price
Bet
- Sep 19, 2008
- 374,215
- 25,006
Here is the main reason Lonzo Ball is good for the NBA.
Because he brings attention.
He draws casual fans like me who have literally no incentive to watch any basketball outside local clubs. His target, mostly brought on by LaVar's **** talking, has made him Must See TV.
I'm not the world's biggest NBA fan. In fact the league soured on me by implementing what I consider disgusting freedom of movement rules which hindered defenses and "opened up the offensive game". As a defensively biased sports fan, this did not sit well with me. I'm willing to look past my moral disgust of professional basketball, because Lonzo Ball and his father have raised so much attention about Lonzo (and he has lived up to the hype BTW) that there becomes this incentive to watch now, to see what will happen.
Other than local basketball, why would one want to watch the NBA? Because of "Splash brothers" who just throw down threes all the time? Because of a team in the West that wins 12 straight in the playoffs? To me, there's no appeal in that. The NBA to me has very little interest. There isn't any rivalry. Nobody talks ****.
Boston - Washington provided a bit of that spark that I grew up with, the rivalry and just true hate for other teams. But Washington basically won every game at home in a blowout and Boston won every game at the Garden in a blowout. So that thrill was short-lived.
I am a tolerant man, really. The NBA has simply had nothing that draws casual fans like me in. That's why I'm telling you that Lonzo Ball and his hype is the major factor in drawing casual fans like me to the game. The way he plays basketball is exciting. He's always passing, he's always shooting, he makes the team better with his presence. There was a debate earlier about how the Lakers shouldn't have traded DeAngelo Russell, well let me tell you something Russell never had this hype, ever.
Lonzo Ball's target makes the NBA "must see TV". In a league where you previously only tuned in to see the climactic Warriors - Cavs final (for the 3rd straight time mind you), he is making "The NBA Great Again" and if he lives up to the hype he will really be a huge face of the NBA. Other than the Wizards playing (and that's when they don't conflict with the Caps) why should I watch the NBA? There's not really any pressing need to watch any basketball outside this market. And Lonzo changed that.
Lonzo Ball made summer league games watchable. Lonzo Ball highly raised the profile of meaningless summer tournaments with his presence and play. If he has a healthy NBA rookie year, you best believe the hype and attention will be so big that the NBA as a whole will benefit in a massive way from it.
Lonzo Ball is already starting to draw enemies and drama and feuds. And this was pretty much nonexistent the last decade in the NBA. The NBA needed a good troll, a provoking heel that we can either cheer or root for, like a WWE figure. Why? Because said troll provides a great talking point other than the same two teams that will just dominate the East and West. Now, the NBA isn't all about how the Warriors will win another title with a loaded club, or how Cleveland continues their East dominance (even without Kyrie). No, now it's about Lonzo Ball and how he does with the Lakers. And that's a very appealing storyline in a league IMO that hasn't had many of them.
People, I am beyond excited for pro basketball. And that is something I have not said in nearly 10 years. One man can change the league. One man can make the league
exciting again.
TWolves? Why? Didn't they miss the playoffs?
Because he brings attention.
He draws casual fans like me who have literally no incentive to watch any basketball outside local clubs. His target, mostly brought on by LaVar's **** talking, has made him Must See TV.
I'm not the world's biggest NBA fan. In fact the league soured on me by implementing what I consider disgusting freedom of movement rules which hindered defenses and "opened up the offensive game". As a defensively biased sports fan, this did not sit well with me. I'm willing to look past my moral disgust of professional basketball, because Lonzo Ball and his father have raised so much attention about Lonzo (and he has lived up to the hype BTW) that there becomes this incentive to watch now, to see what will happen.
Other than local basketball, why would one want to watch the NBA? Because of "Splash brothers" who just throw down threes all the time? Because of a team in the West that wins 12 straight in the playoffs? To me, there's no appeal in that. The NBA to me has very little interest. There isn't any rivalry. Nobody talks ****.
Boston - Washington provided a bit of that spark that I grew up with, the rivalry and just true hate for other teams. But Washington basically won every game at home in a blowout and Boston won every game at the Garden in a blowout. So that thrill was short-lived.
I am a tolerant man, really. The NBA has simply had nothing that draws casual fans like me in. That's why I'm telling you that Lonzo Ball and his hype is the major factor in drawing casual fans like me to the game. The way he plays basketball is exciting. He's always passing, he's always shooting, he makes the team better with his presence. There was a debate earlier about how the Lakers shouldn't have traded DeAngelo Russell, well let me tell you something Russell never had this hype, ever.
Lonzo Ball's target makes the NBA "must see TV". In a league where you previously only tuned in to see the climactic Warriors - Cavs final (for the 3rd straight time mind you), he is making "The NBA Great Again" and if he lives up to the hype he will really be a huge face of the NBA. Other than the Wizards playing (and that's when they don't conflict with the Caps) why should I watch the NBA? There's not really any pressing need to watch any basketball outside this market. And Lonzo changed that.
Lonzo Ball made summer league games watchable. Lonzo Ball highly raised the profile of meaningless summer tournaments with his presence and play. If he has a healthy NBA rookie year, you best believe the hype and attention will be so big that the NBA as a whole will benefit in a massive way from it.
Lonzo Ball is already starting to draw enemies and drama and feuds. And this was pretty much nonexistent the last decade in the NBA. The NBA needed a good troll, a provoking heel that we can either cheer or root for, like a WWE figure. Why? Because said troll provides a great talking point other than the same two teams that will just dominate the East and West. Now, the NBA isn't all about how the Warriors will win another title with a loaded club, or how Cleveland continues their East dominance (even without Kyrie). No, now it's about Lonzo Ball and how he does with the Lakers. And that's a very appealing storyline in a league IMO that hasn't had many of them.
People, I am beyond excited for pro basketball. And that is something I have not said in nearly 10 years. One man can change the league. One man can make the league
exciting again.
Those were hardly the only NBA series.
I think he was more rolling his eyes about Lonzo making Lakers games must watch. I'd watch a Celtics, Wizards, Cavaliers, Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, or Warriors game before I even think about a Lakers game. Probably can add the TWolves to that list now, too.
TWolves? Why? Didn't they miss the playoffs?
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