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The Biggest Problems in the NBA According to Fans

Will Brown by Will Brown, July 21, 2025

NBA issues Los Angeles Lakers

Although the NBA remains one of the most beloved sports leagues in the USA, recent years have found fans turning their back on the league for myriad reasons. From claims of superteam favoritism to inconsistencies in officiating, some believe the NBA needs to make some major changes to return to the excitement of its glory days. In this guide, we’ve identified some of the biggest problems in the NBA as cited by fans and expert pundits.

What Are the Problems With the NBA?

We understand that the problems in the NBA are varied and complex, ranging from everything to how games are distributed to diminished excitement in play. To start this guide, we’ve highlighted the extent of the problem with the NBA and what’s at stake if they’re not resolved.

We then focus on gripes such as perceived biases toward superteams, issues with the draft lottery system, and fatigue around three-pointers. From there, we’ve looked at inconsistencies with game officiating, load management, difficulties accessing game broadcasts, and the NBA’s heavy-handed approach to narrative building.

The Extent of the Problems in the NBA

Although the NBA has never been more popular globally, recent figures indicate that local viewership over the 2024-2025 regular season declined 2% from the previous year. While some have cited changing viewing habits for this waning interest, several expert pundits have highlighted what they believe is a declining product as the cause.

If the latter is to be believed, then the league must grapple with the many problems with the NBA and its structure to ensure its long-term credibility and relevance. The league’s fans have been increasingly vocal about several issues that they believe are damaging professional basketball, and if they aren’t addressed, the NBA could face a mass exodus of viewers as has been witnessed in Major League Baseball.

Perceived Biases Toward Superteams

Widely considered among the most prominent of the biggest problems in the NBA is the perceived favoritism shown towards large-market teams, particularly the Los Angeles Lakers. This relates to everything from superteams’ abilities to attract top free agents, their regular scheduling on national TV broadcasts, and even preferential treatment from referees.

The Lakers have received more national television broadcasts on ESPN and TNT. For example, the Lakers were broadcast 43 times in the 2019-2020 season compared to the 10 national appearances of small-market teams like the Kings or Grizzlies. This is said to have boosted perceptions of the team’s prestige, making it easier for them to attract star players.

Additionally, officiating statistics also indicate that star players and super teams tend to receive more favorable foul calls in crucial moments, especially during championship runs. While the league denies this favoritism, it’s hard to argue with the figures. Teams criticized for being superteams include the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Kevin Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors was also negatively perceived, considering he moved to a team with a strong recent record that had defeated him in the previous season. If these concerns aren’t addressed, it will further reduce the viability of small-market teams as their top talent is poached by larger teams.

While these teams may be safe bets at NBA sportsbooks, their predictable dominance doesn’t serve the fan viewing experience. Not only does this create skepticism among fans, but it also reduces the chance of important underdog narratives from emerging, such is often seen in the NFL.

Controversies With the Draft Lottery

The NBA Draft Lottery system, designed to deter teams from intentionally losing games, is one of the most controversial issues in the NBA. Questions about its legitimacy have swirled since 1985, when the Knicks won the lottery to select Patrick Ewing. Many believe that the draft was rigged to help the flailing team.

Another controversy in 2019 saw the Pelicans able to select Zion Williamson at a time when the league was committed to keeping the franchise in New Orleans. Recently, the Dallas Mavericks secured the Number 1 pick despite having minimal chances. These controversies and more have fueled speculation about the system’s fairness.

Although the league attempted to reform the lottery in 2019 to improve the odds for the worst teams, this seemed to backfire by creating more surprising lottery outcomes. Some believe that the league’s financial interest in creating certain narratives or outcomes and the lack of transparency have created a product that is tightly controlled and untrustworthy.

The Three-Point Fatigue

Over the past decade, the NBA has witnessed a significant shift towards three-point shooting. For example, in the 1996-97 season, teams averaged 16.8 three-point attempts per game. In the 2022-23 season, the number increased to 37.5 attempts per game in the 2024-25 season. This number only seems to be increasing.

While some believe that this has introduced an exciting level of strategy, some argue that the over-reliance on three-pointers reduces the diversity of gameplay. Shaquille O’Neal has even attributed these as one of the biggest problems in the NBA and the reason for declining interest, saying that it makes games monotonous.

Criticisms of three-point reliance have highlighted the robotic style of play, scoring volatility, the reduction in mid-range shooting and post play, and the diminishing value of traditional defensive skills. Ultimately, the lack of tactical complexity has removed what makes basketball compelling in the first place. The league has noted these concerns and has discussed changing rules to address imbalances between offense and defense.

Inconsistencies With Officiating

We couldn’t mention the most current issues in the NBA without voicing the complaints of fans that the NBA’s officiating is inconsistent, arbitrary, and biased. The biggest concerns revolve around different standards being applied to star players, with LeBron James and Stephen Curry known to often receive favorable calls.

The complaints hit their zenith during the 2022 playoffs, which featured several dramatic foul calls between teams and bringing the league’s integrity into question. In response, replay review was introduced to improve accuracy, but these have been criticized for being disruptive and lengthy. The NBA’s Last Two Minute Report, too, has confirmed fan suspicions by underlining the regularity of poor calls.

Technical fouls for minor infractions have also been highlighted for being influenced by officials’ biases rather than player performances. Overall, it’s said that the biases toward certain players may relate to the broader issues of the NBA trying to manufacture narratives for entertainment value rather than maintaining fair competition standards.

Load Management Complaints

The rise of load management has emerged to become one of the biggest problems in the NBA. This is the practice of letting players, particularly stars, sit out of games regularly to rest. While this has been argued to be beneficial for player recovery, fans are often left disappointed to purchase tickets to a game only to find their favorite players absent from the court.

The problem gained prominence during the San Antonio Spurs’ championship runs, with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker often rested during regular-season games. Recent studies have found that single-game absences of star players in the NBA have increased 500%, revealing that there is a big problem.

The NBA has also revealed studies to teams that show that load management doesn’t have any benefits for risking injuries. Therefore, some believe that this could be a result of deals with powerful players who refuse to play every game. With ticket sales at risk and few benefits reported, it’s likely the NBA will begin to crack down on load management more harshly.

Media Accessibility and Narrative Control

The problems with the NBA and its relationship to the media are multi-faceted. One of the biggest recent complaints is that access to broadcasts has become difficult due to the decline of cable TV. The league has multiple rights deals with myriad broadcasters and online streamers, meaning that watching games isn’t centralized.

By making the product difficult to access, it is turning away younger viewers in particular. The other problem with the NBA’s media interests is that the league seems committed to building narratives that are inorganic purely for entertainment purposes. LeBron James, among others, has criticized the NBA’s focus on drama rather than the sport itself.

This detracts from the sportsmanship of high-level play to create sensational headlines, alienating the traditional fan base. By highlighting and even concocting tensions, the NBA risks overshadowing the in-depth analysis and appreciation of basketball, sacrificing long-time fans’ enjoyment in pursuit of others. In short, the NBA must return to what made it so captivating in the 80s and 90s or risk becoming irrelevant.

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