If the Celtics didn't exist, would you follow the NBA?

[Roy H.]

I'm curious, do people like the NBA independently of the Celtics, or do they mostly just follow the franchise?

I watch as many Celtics games as possible.  I used to watch a lot of general NBA games, but recently, I just find myself not caring.  I'll watch a Lakers game to specifically root against them if they're losing sometimes, but otherwise I just don't watch much.  Even in the playoffs, I'll generally watch Giannis, and maybe Luka.  I guess I just don't like the sport in general as much as I used to.  Back in the day, I found so many teams to be entertaining.  I'd watch a random Magic vs. Raptors game.  I'd actively follow the Barkley Suns, the Webber Kings, the Blazers, the Pacers, etc. 

The one exception is that I read a lot of NBA news on all 30 teams.  I have a pretty good idea what's happening with the various teams, I follow transactions and rumors, I devour the stats.  But watching just doesn't entertain me much these days, outside of the Celts?

How much general NBA do you watch?  Are there specific franchises that you watch?  Are you going to watch a couple of lower level playoff teams play on a random weeknight in January?

[ChillyWilly]

I fall in same boat. Sometimes I'll watch a Celtics game live and the replay next morning while I'm working. I'm unsure why I lost interest in watching all the teams since I do have league pass but I have. Like you I just stopped caring.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

If I'm in front of the TV and need to something to watch and there's a non-Celtics game easily available, I might tune in for a bit. I can appreciate the talent of other teams and players, and I certainly pay attention to the bigger news items around the league, but I don't usually closely follow the happenings of other teams.

[mobilija]

Pretty much just Celtics for me. Follow the greater NBA news bits but the NBA in general is kinda...undramatic. It lacks intensity, story line and soul. In the past I've maintained more interest, especially when something novel or legendary starts happening, ie Linsanity come to mind. Is it just me or is there less of that stuff to latch on to? Playoffs, I'll watch some other series if there is an exciting team or story. Just not as much time in this working and growing teenagers period of my life.

[keevsnick]

To be honest I've never been the kind of sports fan who can just sort of watch any sport without a rooting interest. I know a lot of football fans like that, guys who just like watching whatever the Thursday/Monday night game is, but I've never been able to do that with any sport so its not really an NBA specific issue with me.

On the other hand if the Celtics didn't exist maybe I'd just find another team to latch onto?

[Goldstar88]

I still watch some non-celtic games, but not as much as I used to. The NBA was so much better 10-15 years ago… There just aren’t that many (non-Celtic)players around the league that I find exciting to watch. For me it’s really just Ja Morant. He’s absolutely electric to watch.

[gouki88]

I probably would have. I ended up barracking for the Cs because I was super into basketball growing up (not that I’m not any longer), and the Celtics suited my Irish background. I likely would have chosen a random team like Denver, being a fan of McDonalds

[SHAQATTACK]

Guess the Lakers. ….

[slamtheking]

if the Celtics didn't exist, I couldn't care less about the NBA.  Product is awful.  hate the way the game is played.  much prefer the style played in the early and mid-80's. 

[Silas]

I had season tickets for the Bullets/Wizards for 25 years to get better seats to see the Celtics when they came to town.  I gave up the seats during the pandemic. I don’t care about any NBA  team except the Celtics. 

[libermaniac]

I’m in an NBA fantasy league so I’m a junky.

[Kernewek]

I watch maybe 10-12 NBA regular season games a year across the league, and I catch up on a couple dozen more, just as a byproduct of where I live and my schedule. So, while I'm happy with the amount of hoops that I get to watch (I prefer it to watching 1-, 2-, or 300 games per season to be honest), I also happen to think the quality of the average game is quite good - there's one or two players to watch on nearly every franchise.

But I don't really follow the ins and outs across the league anymore - I just root for the C's like your run of the mill Sully O'Plebian and watch the big names and rising stars like your average ESPN watcher. In some ways it's more fun, because I think the burnout comes from the constant coverage and the inanity that accompanies it.

[86MaxwellSmart]

NOPE

[Neurotic Guy]

Any NBA game I would watch now would only be as it relates to the Celtics.  No, I’d have no interest if there was no Celtics.

The only league I can watch outside of the team I root for is NFL.

[blink]

I am a basketball fan in general, so I would def still watch both college and NBA basketball, but it wouldn't be as fun.