Part 3/8:
In what was thought to be a typical Saturday for the league, the NBA Cup semifinals took a major hit when they faced direct competition from WWE—a branding that, while immensely popular, traditionally should not pose a threat. Yet, on this occasion, the WWE amassed 2.3 million viewers compared to the NBA’s disappointing 1.9 million. This stark contrast illustrates fundamental issues in attracting audiences. Adam Silver's failure to perceive WWE as significant competition reveals a disconnect from the harsh realities facing the league.