Suns announcer indirectly blames Steph Curry for NBA's low ratings: "LBJ has carried the (league) longest"
Phoenix Suns commentator Eddie Johnson indirectly said Steph Curry is the reason behind the NBA's low ratings. While Johnson doesn't entirely blame the Golden State Warriors star, arguably because of Curry the NBA has shifted into a more 3-point-oriented league.
Johnson acknowledged that the 3-point shot has become the focal point of the league today. However, given how everyone in the league is taking the type of shots, games have become boring to watch. There's a lack of storytelling and excitement to see other aspects of the game being executed during plays.
"The 3 point shot has become the focal point of the NBA," Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Did Lebron and KD’s efficient brand of mid-range offense slow down the growth of analytics 3 point message and it became overly aggresive with Curry as their face?"
"Now that Curry is nearing the end of his career, how will the 3 point mentality continue to grab the attention of fans and improve viewership," Johnson continued. "I have said for years that this 3 pt mentality has to become more balanced to keep attention of the viewer or you need future Curry’s."
Eddie Johnson pointed out how LeBron James has been the face of the league for a while. It's due to his remarkable skills in every aspect of the game. This is what Steph Curry lacked as he is mainly famous for his long-distance shots. As a result, Curry couldn't exactly become the face of the NBA on the level James did it.
"Out of all the players that have carried the league over the last 40+ years LBJ has carried the longest and it has been great for him and us watching, but has it been for the transfer of who’s next," Johnson wrote. "Maybe Curry and Durant were robbed of the chance to be used and viewed more?"
Steph Curry remains one of NBA's all-time greats despite criticism
While Phoenix Suns announcer Eddie Johnson pointed Steph Curry's brand of 3-point shooting may have ruined the league, there's no denying the greatness Curry brought to the hardwood. After 16 seasons in the NBA, Curry has collected a plethora of accolades that many aspiring basketball players could only wish to achieve in their careers.
Steph is a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a 10-time NBA All-Star, a two-time NBA 3-Point Contest champion and a two-time scoring champion. He holds the record for the most 3-pointers made in a single season. He also holds the record for the most 3-point field goals all-time.
While some see Steph Curry's brand of basketball as bad for the league, there's no denying how his influence impacted the basketball world. The NBA adapted to Curry's style of play because his Warriors dynasty became too much for traditional-oriented teams to handle.