1. There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the media covers the NBA. One criticism offered by some is that talking heads focus too much on the Lakers and Warriors and not enough coverage has been given to the Cavaliers (55–10) and Thunder (53–12).
But as I said in last Friday’s Traina Thoughts regarding Charles Barkely’s rant on this subject, and in Monday’s Traina Thoughts regarding Robert Griffin III’s claim that debate shows ruined sports media, we are in a supply-and-demand business. The viewers dictate coverage.
Saturday’s Lakers-Celtics game drew 4.6 million viewers for ABC. It was the most-viewed non–Christmas Day regular-season game since 2018.
The previous high since 2018 was 4.58 million for a Pacers-Lakers game for the finale of the 2023 in-season tournament. The most-viewed game of this season came on Christmas Day when the Lakers played the Warriors and 7.9 million people tuned in.
Just two weeks ago, when the Lakers played the Mavericks in Luka Doncic’s first game against his former team, TNT drew 2.5 million viewers. At the time, it was the most-watched non-Christmas game of the season behind Opening Night.
Meanwhile, for those clamoring for more Thunder coverage, OKC’s Sunday afternoon game against the Nuggets at 1 p.m. on ABC drew 1.87 million. The Suns-Mavericks game that aired right after it drew 2.03 million. So that’s all you need to know about the Thunder’s appeal across the country.
What does all this mean?
While you may not like the abundance of coverage given to the Lakers, the team moves the needle more than any other in sport. It sounds nice to say, “Oh, please stop ignoring the little guys like the Cavs and Thunder,” but that’s not how business works and sports are a business.
2. I’m gonna be a HUGE Debbie Downer here, so I apologize in advance, but I can’t help myself.
Yes, Tyrese Haliburton gave NBA fans a thrill last night with a wild game-tying three-pointer against the Bucks that ended up being a four-point play for the 115–114 Indiana win.
TYRESE HALIBURTON FOUR-POINT PLAY TO WIN IT 😱 pic.twitter.com/BfhuhcEQdZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2025
One, that was not a foul on Giannis.
Two, TNT’s Reggie Miller saying, “You don’t understand the degree of difficulty on this shot” was absurd. Everyone watching knew the degree of difficulty. That’s why the play blew up across social media.
Major props, though, to Haliburton, who wore sneakers that paid tribute to the WWE’s Degeneration X, and interacted with Triple H on social media after the comeback win.
And if you don’t like that… We got 2 words for ya!!!! https://t.co/h3cSYhJjhx pic.twitter.com/a8WOMG3yEc
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) March 12, 2025
3. Here’s what Stephen A. Smith tweeted after he was confronted by LeBron James last week.
I didn’t want to have to address this. I wouldn’t have, either, had it not gone viral. Now I have no choice. @FirstTake first at 10am EST. Then….The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube! Some things just have to be said. https://t.co/QUxWuKRQVJ
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 7, 2025
Smith, who did not want to address the situation, has basically talked about the situation every single day since tweeting that, with his latest comments on LeBron coming via Gilbert Arenas’s podcast.
“I wasn’t talking about your son…I’m talking about your a**…. all of us as reporters, as a league… had to sit back and be quiet and capitulate to your s***, you did that!”
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 11, 2025
— Stephen A. Smith on LeBron James
(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/f9hrU5BDxV
4. This was one hell of an exchange on Inside the NBA last night.
Shaq: "I like what Chauncey [Billups] is doing. Those guys play hard."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 12, 2025
Candace Parker: "No, I can't let this go. Who's doing it?"
Shaq: "Chauncey's the coach right?"
Lefkoe: "No."
Vince Carter: "JB Bickerstaff."
"I don't watch Detroit [Pistons]." 😭pic.twitter.com/oixeH7SDBL
5. West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez has a plan to make his football team better: Ban them from dancing on TikTok. According to Rodriguez, his players can use TikTok. They just can’t post videos on TikTok in which they are dancing.
“They’re going to be on it,” said Rodriguez, “so I’m not banning them from it. I’m just banning them from dancing on it. It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok, ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”
SportsCenter having fun with WVU Football HC Rich Rodriguez's stance on TikTok dances. pic.twitter.com/64M3n5V8Om
— Bryce Cohen (@BryceCohenMedia) March 12, 2025
As I have said a million times since starting to write a daily column for SI many, many years ago: Football coaches are the weirdest people on earth.
6. I’m going to be doing a mailbag later this week, so please send me any questions you may have. You can send them via social media or email them to Jimmy.Traina@si.com.
In addition, I’m now posting this column and podcast each day on BlueSky if you want to follow me there.
7. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina features a conversation with The Ringer’s editor-at-large, Bryan Curtis, about all the latest sports media news.
Topics covered with Curtis include ESPN cancelling Around the Horn after 23 years and the status of the show's host, Tony Reali; Jimmy Johnson retiring from Fox NFL Sunday and what Fox may do for a replacement; Hard Knocks’s deal with the University of North Carolina and Bill Belichick falling apart; what the MLB-ESPN divorce means for each company and much more.
Following Curtis, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week’s topics include Luka Doncic’s impact on the Lakers’ watchability, the shocking John Cena heel turn and Sal’s recent experience in Disney World. The segment closes with Jimmy reading and reacting to Apple reviews for the SI Media With Jimmy Traina.
You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.
You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.
8. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: It was 19 years ago today that Uncle Junior shot Tony in one of the most shocking seasons in Sopranos history.
Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.
This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ratings Prove That the Lakers Warrant All the Coverage They Get.
