The future might not seem bright for the Association
LeBron James during the first half of an NBA game against the Dallas Mavericks.LAPRESSE
Everyone knew it but the fact that the most iconic figure in the sport today admits it makes things bad. On the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James acknowledged that the NFL outshone the NBA on Christmas Day this year. The NBA, traditionally known for its marquee holiday matchups, found itself overshadowed by the NFL’s massive viewership numbers.
Despite the NBA enjoying its best holiday viewership in five years, with an average of around 5.25 million viewers across five games, the numbers paled in comparison to the NFL’s staggering figures. The Ravens’ victory over the Texans drew 24.3 million viewers, while the Chiefs’ win against the Steelers garnered 24.1 million viewers. “You guys kicked our ass,” James remarked with a laugh, highlighting the stark contrast in viewership.
Reality check! Lebron James admits NFL games already dominate Christmas over the NBA
LeBron pointed to one significant factor that likely contributed to the NFL’s dominance, Beyoncé’s halftime performance. The superstar singer’s appearance was a major draw, capturing the attention of millions of viewers. “I saw the f-ing numbers after the fact… From a viewership standpoint, y’all kicked our a**. The games weren’t as great as they should have been,” the King said.