David Locke here, the host of the daily Locked On Jazz podcast, with your daily Locked On Jazz newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Jazz and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
League at Large
Why you don’t need to care about NBA ratings
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) talk before the game at Chase Center. | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The ‘Things NBA fans get themselves worked up about’ category got a new entry this month, and it reached a fever pitch over the Christmas Day slate of games —ratings. Specifically, broadcast ratings.
It’s a subject Commissioner Adam Silver is often asked about in his pressers, especially those that precede the NBA’s tent-pole events like the In-Season Tournament, All-Star Weekend, the Finals, and Summer League. It also comes up around the annual Board of Governors meeting in early September. It makes sense for Silver to talk about it, given that he’s the league Commissioner, and because he’s been at the helm for broadcast contract negotiations and renegotiations. If this is all making your eyes cross, good, that helps to prove my point.
Silver, team owners, and broadcast executives are the only people who should care about the NBA’s broadcast ratings. It’s their job. Whether numbers are up or down should be of no concern to fans, casual or die-hard, because they ultimately have no bearing on the viewing experience, nor is it up to fans to “fix” anything.
Traditionally, this would’ve been self-evident, but in the contemporary era of fandom — especially NBA fandom — there’s a desire to critique and cosplay as team or league executives. Everything from down to the decimal point salary analysis in trade machinations, on-court performance and ways to improve athlete “production”, concerns for whether front offices are over-spending (they’re billionaires, they can afford it), and now, worries over marketing of the league.
Broadcast ratings are just one metric. The decline in “traditional” television ratings has more to do with how younger fans find and interact with basketball than with some phantom threat of malaise or disinterest. Cable is expensive, and younger audiences almost exclusively stream their sports. Case in point ESPN’s announcement on Christmas Day of an 84% spike in viewership, a day when many, many people head to their family home and have cable television to watch and plenty of free time on their hands.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Replay In a thrilling contest, Scoot Henderson’s game-winner sealed the victory for the Trail Blazers against the Utah Jazz. Relive the excitement of the final moments of the game. (SLC Dunk)
Injury Sam Merrill’s recent slump has been a concern for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz. Assess the implications of his ongoing struggles. (Deseret News)
Ranking One of the most incredible sports moments of the last quarter-century includes a memorable event for Jazz fans. Discover the ranking of these unforgettable moments. (Bleacher Report)
Ticket Booth
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76ers @ Jazz
Saturday, Dec. 28 | 7:30PM | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT | Get Tickets
Nuggets @ Jazz
Monday, Dec. 30 | 7:00PM | Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT | Get Tickets
Jazz @ Knicks
Wednesday, Jan. 1 | 7:30PM | Madison Square Garden, New York, NY | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Christmas Day Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Spectacular: Must-Adds and Droppable Players
Dec 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers center Jaxson Hayes (right) during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
As we celebrate Christmas Day, it’s time for a fantasy basketball waiver wire spectacular. Let’s dive into the most added players, must-roster options, and those you can consider dropping.
The most added player over the last 48 hours is Trayce Jackson-Davis. With two solid games in a row and increased minutes, he’s a no-brainer add for now. Keep an eye on his playing time, as anything over 22 minutes makes him worth rostering.
Noah Clowney is another intriguing addition. His shooting has improved from his college days, and he’s getting significant minutes due to injuries. While I’m not sure he’ll provide top-70 value, he’s worth a look in most leagues.
When it comes to must-roster players (under 50% rostered on Yahoo), consider these options:
1. Goga Bitadze: Despite a recent ankle sprain and ejection, his floor has risen significantly.
2. Ben Simmons: Roster him now and worry about potential issues later.
3. Yves Missi: While I’m skeptical about his role when the Pelicans are fully healthy, he should be rostered for now.
4. Bilal Coulibaly: After a cold streak, he’s regained his form and confidence.
5. Ayo Dosunmu: Although I have limited faith in his long-term upside, he’s a must-roster player for the time being.
On the flip side, there are some players you can consider dropping. Remember, “droppable” doesn’t mean you must drop them, but rather that it’s acceptable to do so if needed. These include Gradey Dick, Dennis Schröder, Onyeka Okongwu, Rui Hachimura, Jaden McDaniels, and Jaden Ivey.
Looking at hot players, Larry Nance Jr. has been impressive lately, ranking 40th over the last week. While I don’t expect this to hold long-term, he’s worth rostering for now. Other notable hot players include Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jake LaRavia, and Dean Wade.
The Utah Jazz secure a decisive 105-94 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, showcasing an effective defensive strategy and capitalizing on the Nets’ offensive struggles. David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, and Ron Boone dissect the game’s key moments, including the Jazz’s double-teaming tactics against Cam Johnson and the team’s ability to win despite Lauri Markkanen’s off-night from three-point range.
Keyonte George’s Dunk Saves Utah Jazz in Thrilling Win
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and Jazz NBA Insider, examines the Sacramento Kings’ recent struggles and ponders if the Utah Jazz should make a move for De’Aaron Fox. He analyzes the complexities of rebuilding in the NBA, using the Cleveland Cavaliers’ journey to becoming the league’s top team as a case study. Locke explores the challenges of timing, player contracts, and market appeal in executing successful trades.
POSTCAST - Utah Jazz’s explosive first quarter dominates Detroit Pistons in thrilling NBA showdown
David Locke, radio voice of the Utah Jazz and NBA Insider, and Ron Boone break down the Jazz’s 126-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons. The game’s narrative unfolds like a book with multiple authors, starting with a blistering 48-point first quarter for Utah. The Jazz’s hot shooting and transition play set the tone, but Detroit’s physical defense in the second quarter disrupted their rhythm.
