Where Will NBA Draw the Line With Advertising?

By Anthony Beers @AnthonyBeers on October 15, 2014

The NBA’s current television deal with ESPN and Turner is worth $930 million and expires in 2016. That’s why on Monday the NBA reached a new, nine-year agreement worth $24 billion. This will without a doubt significantly increase the NBA’s salary cap and result in larger contracts, advertisements, ticket prices, everything. Adam Silver and company were not messing around.

In the meantime, the NBA is looking for any reason to increase their current revenue even prior to this new jackpot of a deal. The latest rumor, that is looking more and more imminent, is the placing of advertisements on players’ jerseys. This is a common ritual in many soccer leagues, therefore, many fans believe it won’t harm the quality of basketball in any way.

Sure, it won’t affect fans directly, but indirectly it certainly will. It’s more than just looking at jerseys with a big Coca-Cola logo right in the middle. It’s the inflation in all aspects of the league that will undoubtedly alter basketball. It’s incomparable to soccer because the culture derives from Europe where traditions just don’t change. For example, no person ever knows when stoppage time will end in a soccer match. Any murmur of changing that rule puts soccer fans in an outrage. The NBA has had a plethora of rule changes over the years. The culture behind both sports is just different in nature. Commercialism and social hierarchies are much different in the United States than anywhere else in the world.

The thing that fans have to realize is at what point will the NBA stop making money? It will be long after the purity of basketball is lost. It will occur well after the loyal fans that could once afford to go to games attend such events. The next era of Nike sneakers will cost well over $400. The personality of fanbases will be completely destroyed. There will no longer be families at basketball games just wealthy businesses trying to find a new place for happy hour. And worst of all, rich traditions of basketball in the aspect of the game itself, will be lost.

If you don’t think so then you’re just not paying attention. The quality of NBA basketball has always been changing, but it’s officially at a different point. Commercial and endorsement deals have propelled NBA players to a completely higher level of stardom. Stars often don’t just expect the ball in last-second situations, but demand it, despite double- or even triple-team defenses. Years ago this would be unheard of. Players have such a heavy influence on who coaches them and what teams they play for. Referees cater to stars greater than ever before.

Some fans accept it. Other fans remember an era where team basketball defined the game. There are still glimpses of this great ritual in the game today. The San Antonio Spurs reminded fans that teamwork wins championships, not stars. But this game is changing and the inflation of the salary cap is a significant part of it. To say new television deals or advertising plans don’t affect this pattern would not be wise.

Since the NBA will stop at nothing to make more money, the fans have to recognize what’s happening to the game of basketball. They have to demand a better quality game at a better price. While fans naturally feel powerless towards polarizing numbers like $24 billion television deals, they have more possibilities of being heard than ever before with the internet and social media.

So alas basketball fans, rejoice as the tipoff for the 2014-15 season approaches, but understand you don’t have to accept everything in the basketball world as it is. You can leave the $250 LeBron’s on the rack at Footlocker. You can boo a selfish shot even if it goes in. And you don’t have to buy a jersey with any type of corporate sponsor on it.

The personality of the fanbase and the tradition behind franchises is everything in the NBA. No amount of money can take that away. Basketball may be a struggle, but it is ever-changing. For better or worse? That’s up to you.