Opinion: The NBA Has a Competition Problem – A Look at the Lack of Parity in Professional Basketball
On Friday, the Golden State Warriors won their third NBA Championship in four years. While dynasties are good for professional sports leagues in general, the lack of competition in the NBA outside of the top handful of teams is leaves the majority of the league on the outside looking in, including their fan bases.
Over the last seven years in the NBA, a total of only five teams have reached the NBA Finals (Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers). Four of those five teams rank in the top 10 of average attendance in relation to their stadium size (San Antonio ranks 14th).
So where’s the competition? Where are the underdogs we live to root for?
The NHL gave us the Vegas Golden Knights and the eventual first-time Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. The MLB has given us six different teams in the World Series over the past three years and unexpected champions in the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals. Even the NFL has surprised us with the Philadelphia Eagles who were able to defeat the heavily favored New England Patriots.
The NBA has become predictable. And whether NBA Commissioner Adam Silver or the gap in talent between LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and the rest of the league is to blame, there’s a problem here that needs to be fixed. Even if television ratings aren’t suffering, the hopes and dreams of small market teams and any fans of organizations outside of Cleveland, Golden State, and wherever LeBron James plays next are.
Even in sports where there are no salary caps, there is competitive balance. The structure of the NBA allows for Golden State to acquire and maintain an astonishing four of the top fifteen players in the league. And is there any doubt that the Warriors won’t return to the NBA Finals next year? While their greatness can’t be questioned, the lack of competition is disappointing and disheartening for fans that enjoy heated rivalries, buzzer beaters, and the thrill of an NBA Finals that goes more than four or five games.
Photo credits: Jonathan Bachman/2014 Associated Press photo
Author: @MichaelLuchies
Editor: @bacchist
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I completely agree with you. I'm an Orlando Magic fan and they haven't been worth watching in close to a decade and I'm not even sure they will be watchable in the next 4 or 5 years. Seemed at least through free agency and/or the draft you would get a respectable top 4 team every few years that at least had a chance of winning your conference but now with these players deciding to play together on just a few teams the rest of the league doesn't have a chance.
Thanks seven. I don't even care if they are teams I root for or not, I just want to see someone be able to compete. Maybe the 76ers will take a step forward, but for now, it's the Warriors league.
I don't see any problem in one team dominating. I enjoy basketball for what it is, not caring would (in this case) Warriors win 4-0 or 4-1.
I understand people saying it's too predictable, but if you enjoy some sport, you enjoy because you love that sport, not because game might be tight.
Don't see any point in making artificial rule that can make team weaker. It's not like Warriors have 74-8 in regular season and they sweep anyone in playoffs. It's about other teams and players to step up their game and try to take down the champions. Don't believe it's right way to make that artificially.
Thank you so much for your comment! I do enjoy the sport, but I love watching new teams enter the mix. I'm so tired of the same teams getting into the finals. I love watching the Warriors play, but a 4-game sweep was disappointing.
Yes, it would need to be handled very carefully.
I wasn't disappointed at all. They are just the best. The problem are not Warriors, it's other teams not finding line up of players that can beat them.
Because those lineups don't exist lol. There is no competitive balance. It's not for lack of trying.