There is a direct link between the NBA having so many terrible announcers that seem to hate basketball, and casual fans being ignorant about why Giannis was the obvious DPOY (and why the Bucks are playing at 1:30pm). In short, the NBA doesn’t know how to sell itself.

The NBA is a league that just lets things happen to it. It caters to big markets because big markets naturally have fans. It lets agents run the league because agents are motivated. It is in bad markets and not in good ones because of short-sighted stadium deals.

A better run league — like the NFL — works hard to sell itself. It mythologizes players in all markets. It pushes a common narrative. It absolutely bullies its television partners to make sure they are promoting the product, and not tearing it down. In short, it sells.

The NBA doesn’t sell itself, and as the fan of a team and player that deserve to be sold, it’s a bummer.

I should note that there are advantages to the NBA’s approach, particularly for players. Everything is a tradeoff. But I think the league could remain far more player friendly than the NFL yet still do far far more to sell what is a great product.