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The viewership of the NBA has seen drastic declines. According to statistics, the average viewership for the NBA Finals has plummeted from peaks of over 20 million viewers just a decade ago to around 11 million today. This shift began around 2020, during the bubble playoffs, which recorded the lowest ratings historically for NBA Finals games. Fans have speculated on the reasons for this decline, ranging from the league's increasing political stance since the events surrounding George Floyd, to the lack of compelling rivalries within the league.