The NBA enjoyed a successful Christmas Day slate, with a series of competitive games drawing strong viewership. The positive ratings came as a relief amid ongoing concerns about declining audience interest, a topic that has sparked debate among basketball insiders. Figures ranging from rising NCAA star Caitlin Clark to former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick have weighed in on what’s causing the league’s struggles to maintain consistent viewership.
Redick Critiques Broadcast Approach
During a December press conference, JJ Redick voiced his concerns about the NBA’s broadcasting strategy, accusing networks of failing to showcase the league in a positive light. Redick suggested that the constant negativity surrounding the product was driving fans away.
“If I’m a casual fan and you tell me every time I turn on the television that the product sucks, well, I’m not going to watch the product,” Redick remarked.
His comments, aimed at the league’s broadcast partners and broader narratives, highlighted a disconnect between the NBA’s efforts to promote itself and the perception it creates for viewers.
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Barkley Fires Back During TNT Broadcast
Redick’s critique didn’t sit well with Charles Barkley, who took the opportunity to address it during TNT’s first doubleheader of 2025 on Thursday night. Known for his candid and often polarizing commentary, Barkley used a highlight segment of the Boston Celtics’ victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to unleash a fiery response, targeting Redick and indirectly referencing other critics.
“He said something about we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got,” Barkley said. “Yeah, us. Like we’re out there jacking up a hundred threes a night. JJ … I don’t know Jason Monroe, I don’t know who that is, but JJ, you come for the king, you better not miss.”
Barkley didn’t stop there, pivoting to a pointed critique of Redick’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and their turbulent season.
“Remember, I got your Lakers’ games. You can’t hide them flaws they got. You just a dead man walking. They got rid of Frank Vogel, who did a good job. They got rid of Darvin Ham, who did a good job. And now you come in thinking you’re going to change things with the same ugly girl you went on the date with—the Lakers stink.”
Barkley’s colorful analogy continued as he dismissed the Lakers’ chances of success: “He came in there thinking, ‘I can make this thing work.’ Hell you can’t. Put some makeup on that pig. The Lakers stink, man. Come on, man.”
A Broader Debate About the NBA Product
Barkley’s rant also seemed to address broader criticisms leveled at him and Inside the NBA by FS1’s Jason McIntyre, who recently called out the show for its perceived negativity during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. While Barkley appeared to misidentify McIntyre as “Jason Monroe,” his frustration underscored the ongoing tension between media personalities and their views on the league’s issues.
Ironically, Barkley’s own comments about the “crappy” product and his harsh assessment of the Lakers—currently a playoff team led by one of the greatest players of all time, LeBron James—may validate some of Redick and McIntyre’s criticisms. By dismissing a marquee franchise as “stinking,” Barkley inadvertently echoed the negative rhetoric that Redick argued was turning casual fans away from the NBA.
What’s Next for the Lakers?
The Lakers, who are set to face the Dallas Mavericks on TNT next Tuesday, remain a focal point of the league’s storylines.
Both teams are tightly packed in the standings, and the game carries significant implications for playoff positioning. However, Barkley’s scathing remarks beg the question: Why should fans tune in if even a prominent NBA voice diminishes the product and one of its top teams?
The Ongoing Challenge
The debate over the NBA’s viewership woes highlights a deeper struggle for the league and its broadcasters to strike the right balance between entertainment and constructive criticism.
While Barkley’s blunt commentary remains a staple of Inside the NBA, it also feeds into the very narrative Redick decried—one that undermines the league’s appeal to casual fans.
For the NBA, the Christmas Day ratings success is a positive sign, but the challenge remains clear: how to maintain that momentum and re-engage fans in a way that celebrates the game, rather than diminishing it.
As figures like Redick, Barkley, and others continue to spar over these issues, the league must navigate this landscape carefully to ensure its product resonates with audiences long-term.
