Caitlin Clark’s might have just nailed why NBA ratings are down

By now, almost every sports fan has heard it: NBA ratings are down.

The idea that fewer people are engaged in watching mens professional basketball has been the subject of significant debate centered around several prevailing theories.

Some have blamed the significant increase in three-pointers across the league.

Some think that media coverage of the actual product has gotten too negative.

Many have maintained that a rise in player injuries and stars unreliable availability is to blame.

Others have suggested that the league begin play on Christmas rather than in October in order to avoid such a heavy overlap with football.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark , one of the biggest names in all of basketball, also wants to know the real reason why fewer people are tuning into the NBA.

The near-unanimous Rookie of the Year said in a New Heights podcast appearance that she has been on the hunt to get to the bottom of why ratings are lower this season than in years past.

Ive been asking a lot of people about this, and why they think theyre down, she said.

Clark has her own theory about why fewer people are watching the NBA this season, and when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

Honestly, I feel like the average basketball fan doesnt understand how good NBA players are, and they think it looks like theyre not trying, Clark said.

I promise you theyre trying.

Theyre just, like, so good.

Thats why it looks like theyre not trying.

A common complaint has been that players dont play as hard or as physical today as they used to but that complaint oftentimes doesnt take into account just how much better offensive players have gotten.

Many NBA teams play four or five three-point shooters at once, so defenders cannot overplay drives the way that they used to.

Clark also acknowledged the theory that early-season basketball viewership simply suffers because of the sport it is up against both college football and the NFL typically broadcast competing games in the first few months of the NBA season.

Its hard for me to put my finger on why its gone down.

Its also competing against football right now, so you have to take that into consideration.

Football is Americas favorite thing.

Caitlin Clark blames NBA ratings decline on players being too good https://t.co/qiYCaYi4NR pic.twitter.com/8vh8EZbU8i Unsurprisingly, Clark doesnt see the record amount of three-point attempts across the NBA as a concern.

She holds numerous three-point records herself, including the most three-pointers made in a single season by a single Division I basketball player, male or female.

She also made more threes in her rookie season in the WNBA than any first-year player in league history.

I love three-point shooting, Clark said, adding shed love to see the NBA add a four-point line.

Clark acknowledged the common complaints around the leagues physicality, pointing to how the evolution of basketball is simply a part of the game.

Obviously, the physicality of the league has changed a lot, Clark said.

I wasnt around when it was a lot more physical.

Maybe people want more beef and physicality, and people think its gone soft.

But, I think its also because the skill has just changed.

Thats whats great about basketball its always evolving.

Its going to be different than when MJ played, its going to be different in 10 years than it is now..

This article has been shared from the original article on sbnation, here is the link to the original article.