Imagine acing a test with a score of 97, then being told that you actually scored a 77. That 20 percent decrease is a significant drop, which the NBA is currently experiencing. If you had told someone 10 years ago that the so-called “greatest basketball league in the world” was dropping ratings by a fifth of its usual viewers, they likely would have told you to stop joking. Despite the blame being put on the NBA and its marketing, it is not the NBA’s management that is at fault. What they are missing is a superstar.

To understand the dips in viewership, we must first understand how they achieved their unparalleled success. The league began gaining attention in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the NBA truly started the soar to fame. This success was due to the attraction to new talents over the years.

In the 1970s, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became renowned for his signature skyhook. In the 1980s, two great players, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, took the world by storm. One with swagger and flashy passing abilities, another with a stone-cold mentality and deadly jumper, their unique personalities attracted many. In the 1990s, Michael Jordan, also referred to by many as the greatest of all time, leaped onto the scene. With his famous tongue stick-out and dunk from the free throw line, people were captivated by his game. In the 2000s, the dynamic dominant duo of Kobe and Shaq revolutionized the game. Kobe won 5 championships whereas Shaq became known as one of the greatest big men to ever touch a basketball. In the 2010s, many players attracted viewers, but one stood out amongst all. Lebron King James, or the “chosen one”, came into the league as an 18-year-old with the pressure of the world on his shoulders. 22 years later, at 40 years old, he is still one of the premier players in the league. He has scored the most points in NBA history and is commonly referred to as the GOAT alongside Michael Jordan. However, the king is now without a crown.  When asked about watching his favorite players age, Mr Joe, varsity basketball head coach says, “it takes a little bit of the shine off their play because they’re not doing what they used to be able to do.”

Is there another heir apparent? Although there is currently no solidified prince to pass the torch to, hope is on the horizon. The recent blockbuster trade (trade including a superstar) of sending European triple-double machine Luka Doncic to the Lakers to team up with Lebron James has blown up the internet. Additionally, Victor Wembenyama, a unicorn—a player with a rare or never-seen-before skill set—has started to rise to superstar status. With these two possible generational talents, the NBA no doubt has a chance to rise to its old glory.