You wait all year for this. The anthem, the lights, that goosebump moment when the Larry O’Brien glistens at center court. But when Game 1 tipped off in Oklahoma City, something felt… hollow. And just like that, Adam Silver was at the heart (or lack thereof) of it all. Daman Rangoola took to X, posting, “ESPN/ABC have degraded the NBA experience to a degree that goes underappreciated. It’s almost impressive”
Because what was supposed to be a crowning moment for two of the league’s most exciting young teams—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder and Tyrese Haliburton’s Pacers—has instead turned into a PR nightmare for the league office. Not because of the players, nor because of the basketball. But because of the vibe, something least expected from a Finals game as crucial as this one.
The latest wave of fan pushback came in response to Adam Silver’s recent comments addressing concerns over having two small-market teams in the Finals. “If we were going into a Super Bowl and it was Packers against Steelers, you guys would be celebrating that,” Silver said. “Those would be storied franchises. People wouldn’t be talking about the fact that Pittsburgh is a small market.”
Even before Game 1 tipped off, online discourse had already shifted toward TV ratings, with critics claiming a Pacers-Thunder Finals wouldn’t draw national interest. But Silver wasn’t having any of it. “It’s been intentional from our standpoint to create a system—a collective bargaining agreement—that allows more teams to compete,” the Commissioner added.
One fan posted, capturing the growing sentiment that the Finals just don’t feel like the Finals anymore: “The NBA Finals: 1 Ugly Scorebug, 2 YouTube Ads on Court, 0 Larry O’Briens, Doris Burke RUINING OUR BEAUTIFUL SPORT ”. Because as per the fans, it looks like just another Wednesday night regular season matchup, and the aesthetics and emotions are being questioned. “Based on this picture, you wouldn’t know it’s the NBA Finals. What happened to the NBA Finals that we know & love ,” another fan wrote.
Now, all eyes are turning toward NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who faces a wave of backlash from loyalists craving authenticity. The Finals may be tied 0-0 currently, but the court of public opinion? Already hostile… and growing louder.
(This is a developing story)
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