Every year, the release of the NBA schedule gets fans talking on Twitter, mostly about the quantity of national TV games each team has. Does Team X have too many games? Does Team Y have too few? Why does Team X have more games than Team Z? This week, Digits will examine some of the standout components of this season’s national TV schedule.
Takeaway #1: Stephen Curry and LeBron James are the faces of the NBA.
The Warriors and Lakers have the most national TV games in the league this season (41 and 40, respectively). I could say that both teams have too many games, and I don’t think I would be wrong, but these two teams having this many games can’t be too shocking considering Stephen Curry and LeBron James are on the respective rosters. Let’s hope injuries don’t hit these teams, though, or some national television games may be snoozefests.
Takeaway #2: The Denver Nuggets should have more national TV appearances.
The Nuggets’ 30 national TV games is tied for 5th, but they’re the defending champions. They deserve to be top 3. No disrespect to the Suns and they’re super intriguing with their addition of Bradley Beal, but let’s please respect the defending champions a little more. Do Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown deserve more national TV games than the champions who just had one of the more dominant postseason runs in recent memory?
Takeaway #3: New York Knicks bias is insane.
I get New York is a big market, but are we serious with the Knicks having 25 games? That is more than the Miami Heat (24), Sacramento Kings (22), and Clippers (22). Do they deserve more than those teams? Jalen Brunson is awesome to watch, and Julius Randle is great in the regular season, but how are they over the reigning Eastern Conference champions, De’Aaron Fox and a fun up-tempo offense, and Kawhi Leonard & Paul George (who may be joined by James Harden!)?
Takeaway #4: Victor Wembanyama is here.
The Wemby effect is officially absurd. The Spurs have 19 nationally televised games this coming year, tied for 13th. Here’s a reminder: they were a just a 22 win team. It is expected to see that number increase with their young talent improving (thinking about Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan mainly), but 19 games is still a crazy number. It’s more than the Cleveland Cavaliers (17), who just had a 51 win season.
Takeaway #5: Where’s the respect for young, budding stars?
Tyrese Haliburton, Cade Cunningham, LaMelo Ball, and Paolo Banchero will be on national TV a combined 19 games. That is the same number of games as Victor Wembanyama. Not to mention, those teams have other fun young talent out there. Think about Franz Wagner, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, Brandon Miller, Jarace Walker, Anthony Black, Mark Willliams, and so many others. In addition, the Houston Rockets -- who have arguably the best young core in the entire NBA -- have only 4 national TV games. Even Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves only have 10 national TV games.
Charlie Spungin , NBA Analyst