The National Basketball Association is one of America’s most popular leagues and has been since its inception in 1946. Over more than 75 years, the audience for this competition has grown, and that’s due to its popularity, and also its increasing accessibility.
In those early days, those who weren’t able to attend an NBA game in person had to follow the competition via printed media. Television began to take over in the 1960s, while in the present day, more fans are getting their NBA news and following games online.
NBA’s Peak Period
The NBA reaches peak interest around the time of the playoffs. The best franchise teams in the regular season face off over a course of knockout rounds, with the aim of reaching the finals series. A best-of-seven-game format is in place, and that system is also employed for the final as the league looks for its champion.
The standard at this stage of the campaign is always high, and current NBA playoffs odds suggest that the 2024, post-season is going to be tight. After a strong showing across the regular season, the Boston Celtics are favorites to lift the trophy this year.
The sportsbooks predict that the Celtics’ biggest challenges are likely to come from the Denver Nuggets, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Each of those teams will have its backers, and there are plenty of ways in which fans will follow the franchises.
The Digital Revolution
Advances in online technology mean that basketball fans no longer have to access printed media or sign up for expensive TV packages in order to follow the NBA. Many still subscribe to TV broadcasters, but there are alternatives.
One of the best websites for coverage is the official NBA page. The association runs a league pass, which gives readers access to breaking news and the top stories from around the association.
The pass also provides visual content with games and news conferences, plus interviews with key players and coaches. It’s the first option for many fans, and the NBA League Pass can be accessed via desktop, laptop or through the official app.
Many of the major sportsbooks offer live streaming as part of their package. Qualification rules vary, but several will allow their customers to watch games, as long as they have a funded account. With interest in the NBA increasing in different areas, this is a growing media option.
TV’s Wider Influences
Major TV broadcasters also realize that their customers want to catch up with news and videos online. The ESPN organization is one of the most proactive in this respect and they also provide many ways in which to follow the NBA throughout the regular and postseason.
A dedicated sports network, ESPN were founded in 1979, so there’s lots of history and respect behind the broadcaster. Along with the regular news and interviews, ESPN is also the best site to follow in terms of stats. If you want to know anything about the teams and individuals taking part in the NBA, you’ll find that information here.
Sky Sports is an established broadcaster in the UK and another site that offers extensive NBA coverage. This is the channel for following live games, while the website and app also have news and previews throughout the season.
The Top Portals
Since sports coverage is headed online, a number of trusted websites have been established in the last twenty years. Some of these attract top reporters who are knowledgeable about their subject, and these sites are great sources of material for NBA followers.
Among the more respected websites for the core US sports is Bleacher Report. Along with its news and opinion articles, this source also publishes entertaining lists and stats pieces. Many of its reporters are fine historians, and this is a great site for anyone interested in the NBA through the years.
Other recommended websites and apps for NBA fans include Sports Illustrated, Hoops Rumors, the New York Post, SB Nation and The Athletic. Each provides something different for followers, but all of those sites offer entertaining reads and important information for anyone interested in the National Basketball Association.
An Established Passion
The apps and websites that provide access to NBA games, news, and opinion already have an attentive audience. Basketball is a global sport, and while all NBA teams are based in North America, the passion for the league extends all over the world.
Popularity is set to increase, and the challenge for those digital providers is to keep pace with that growth. More and more readers and site visitors from around the world will be tuning in and they demand high-quality content. That’s good news for all of us, as the excellent NBA coverage that is already in place is set to increase and improve.