Released last night around 9 p.m., the official schedule for the 2022-23 NBA season revealed all its secrets. And among the intricacies that are always interesting to analyze, there are the matches on national air, that is to say those which are broadcast on the ESPN, ABC and TNT channels. Which teams will play most often in front of the eyes of the whole country? The least? We take stock.
Matches on national air are a bit of a sign of recognition. The most hyped teams in the NBA are logically those who play most often on the big stage, while the teams at the bottom of the table or who do much less talking remain limited to local broadcasts. So yes, this hype is not always purely linked to sports results, because we know that the standing of a franchise, the market in which it operates and the stars it has in its workforce also play a big role. Do you want an example ? No need to look far. The Lakers will have no less than 27 games broadcast nationally during the 2022-23 season, they will participate in all the major regular events such as Opening Night or Christmas Day. Only Stephen Curry’s Warriors – reigning NBA champions – do better with 30 games (the two teams will face off on opening night at Golden State). However, Los Angeles remains on a catastrophic campaign where it did not even reach the play-in tournament despite the high expectations that could surround it a year ago. Not really the team profile that deserves to be in the spotlight. But the Lakers are the Lakers, one of the most legendary franchises in the NBA, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook in the roster. And that, of course, is very hype.
The NBA teams that will have the most games on national air (ESPN + ABC + TNT) for the 2022-23 season.
30 games: Warriors
27 games: Lakers
25 games: Celtics
23 games: Bucks Sixers
22 games: Suns
21 games: Mavs
20 games: Clippers
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) August 17, 2022
The Celtics, NBA finalists in 2022 and historic rivals of the Lakers, close the podium with 25 games on the program nationally. We want to say that it makes sense given the formidable course of the band at Jasyon Tatum last season, the expectations concerning them, and the standing of the franchise. The Bucks and Sixers, two other Eastern Conference heavyweights, complete the Top 5 with 23 games, while the best regular team in 2021-22 – namely the Phoenix Suns – will be entitled to 22 games on the national air.
The NBA teams that will have the fewest games on national air (ESPN + ABC + TNT) for the 2022-23 season.
Game 1: Spurs Jazz Kings Magic Thunder Rockets Pacers Pistons
2 games: Wizards
3 games: Hornets Blazers
4 games: Raptors
5 games: Cavs
8 games: Hawks
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) August 17, 2022
At the bottom of the standings are teams like the Spurs, Jazz, Kings, Magic, Thunder, Rockets, Pacers and Pistons, with only one game on the national airwaves. What do these teams have in common? They are all in the process of rebuilding, except Sacramento which is supposedly playing in the playoffs. In the lot there are certainly youngsters who already represent the future of the NBA (Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey…) but for the moment we still have to leave room to adults. We also note that the Atlanta Hawks of Trae Young will only be broadcast eight times nationally, while they were part of the teams that rise after their big run in the 2021 Playoffs. Last year’s disappointing season obviously left traces, and the arrival of Dejounte Murray did not really succeed in reviving the hype. We are now waiting for Ice Trae’s tweet to show his amazement at this total.
This does not include NBA TV, which adds, for example, 12 games for the Warriors.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) August 17, 2022
The Warriors and the Lakers at the top, small market teams and rebuilding at the bottom, in short nothing very surprising. The NBA is very well aware of the hype that surrounds its various franchises, and as always intends to capitalize on it.
Source text: NBA