It's been over a month since the video of Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner discussing media narratives on the No Chill podcast went viral.
Evan Turner highlights being in the Eastern Conference semi-finals vs the Boston Celtics in 2012. He was enthusiastic about the opportunity to play against the Miami Heat in the conference finals until his veteran teammate said, “You know we have to win by 15 to win by 1, right”. Simply stating that the point difference has to be significant enough to avoid controversies.
Given those statements, one may argue that the NBA is rigged and honestly, there’s been numerous occasions when fans felt "iffy" about officiating, gameplay & outcome of NBA games.
Lakers vs Kings in the Western Conference Final, 2002
But then, for sports to appeal to a wider audience, organizations have to create or feed a narrative that encourages a deeper connection.
First and foremost, we have to understand that sports is a consumer-based business. The goal is not only to create excitement but to generate revenue. In today's sports, there are four key revenue streams: – TV rights, Merchandise sales, Sponsorship, and Ticket sales, all of which are entirely dependent on the fan’s engagement.
The NBA has mastered the art of marketing the game over the years by incorporating real-life stories of its players - a simple yet extremely effective strategy. These stories go beyond sports, transforming superstars into relatable aspirational figures and allowing fans to connect on a profound level.
On the flip side, it fuels debates and talking points on screen and in the streets around the clock. Some of these may be considered unhealthy as they may trigger the emotions of passionate fans.
It's 2023 and we still argue who the G.O.A.T is
But that's the goal; to have fans champion these narratives and pioneer new ones because any type of publicity is good publicity - especially when it happens organically
In the grand scheme of things, storytelling emerges as the silent protagonist that shapes emotional connections in the world of sports. The cultural force that resonates with millions worldwide, our heroes and legends are built on the stories that breathe life into the games we love – for it's in these stories that the true magic of sports is revealed.