Too many three-pointers. Poor referee decisions. Soft players. Although individuals may have different reasons for their opinions, there is one thing most basketball fans can agree on: The NBA is declining.

As a result, we believe many of the complaints regarding the league’s decline in viewership include a lack of defensive effort and an excess number of player absences, on top of the significant emphasis on three-point shooting.

These grievances are valid, as the number of three-point attempts per game has increased from 22.4 shots per game during the 2014-2015 season to 37.4 shots today, according to StatMuse.

And while it’s reasonable to blame these issues for the NBA’s decline, we do not believe they are the root of the problem as the quality of play has not significantly declined. NBA icons Stephen Curry and LeBron James, who drew in millions of fans throughout the years, are getting older. The main issue is that fans are too fixated on the past and unwilling to accept the new generation of the NBA.

According to Sportspro, the NBA Finals in 2023 and 2024 attracted an average of around 11 million viewers per game on ABC. These NBA Finals featured top stars Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum and Luka Dončić, but they have not brought nearly the same level of excitement as the NBA Finals from 2015 to 2017 which averaged over 20 million viewers per game on ABC, according to Statista. This three-year period featured showdowns between Curry’s Golden State Warriors and James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, garnering the highest average viewers in the past twenty years and significantly expanding the league’s audience.

Despite the presence of multiple generational talents today, NBA ratings are down 17% from 2023 to 2024 for the league’s national partners TNT, ESPN and ABC, according to CNBC Sport. The NBA’s current situation is very similar to when basketball legend Kobe Bryant was on the verge of retirement, during which tons of viewers had their eyes on Curry and James as the next faces of the league. With today’s young stars making history and rivaling their performances, why shouldn’t fans do the same now?

One notable player who isn’t appreciated enough is San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. Standing at an astonishing 7 feet 4 inches, Wembanyama possesses an 8-foot wingspan and is a deadly three-point shooter. Wembanyama is also leading the NBA in blocks and showcasing a style of basketball none have seen before, and will undoubtedly play a major part in the league’s future.

Another great young player entering his prime is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who is currently the front-runner to win the MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander has virtually no flaws in his game, with a smooth mid-range jump shot and an unbelievable ability to drive to the basket and finish at the rim with ease.

Despite their amazing highlights and statistics, fans don’t look up to these players the same way they did with Curry and James. We believe that nostalgia and glorification of the past prevent them from properly acknowledging the new generation’s achievements and idolizing them in the same way.

Palo Alto High School sophomore Conrad Lui, an avid NBA fan, said he can’t see Wembanyama or Gilgeous-Alexander becoming legends of the same level as Curry and James.

“Neither Shai nor Wembanyama will likely ever reach LeBron and Steph’s legendary status,” Lui said. “Those two changed the game forever, while Shai’s playstyle isn’t transcendent, and Wembanyama still has a long way to go despite his incredible potential.”

Lui says he doesn’t consider Gilgeous-Alexander a remarkable player because he leans on free throws to score points.

“He relies heavily on driving into contact and getting to the [free throw] line rather than creating efficient offense from all areas,” Lui said. “Almost every clip of Shai I have seen is either about him getting an and-one while flopping, or trying to draw contact.”

We believe the influence of social media on viewers’ perceptions is another major reason for the NBA’s decline. While Gilgeous-Alexander does shoot many free throws, most of them are due to the fact that defenders can’t guard him and are forced to foul him. But because there is a false narrative on social media that he flops and foul baits, many fans do not appreciate his skill. Before being consumed by these narratives, fans should, as Gilgeous-Alexander’s star teammate Jalen Williams said, “Just watch the games.”

Another example of social media dictating fans’ perceptions is the situation involving Dončić, where it was announced on Feb. 2 he was being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN. Dončić is considered an NBA superstar by most fans and has many accomplishments deserving of praise. He has the second most triple-doubles in NBA history before turning 25, according to StatMuse. A triple-double is where a player records double digits in three statistical categories. But this trade elevated his public exposure to another level, portraying the massively greater reach trade headlines have compared to on-court performances.

Paly sophomore Jayden Dhaliwal commented on how the masses gravitate towards drama surrounding players rather than appreciating their performances.

“I do think sports fans in general tend to get caught up in the headlines and what’s eye-catching,” Dhaliwal said. “One of my cousins said he doesn’t like the trade because Luka’s unathletic and fat, yet another media headline that people consume. What people, including my cousin, don’t see, are the ridiculous stat-lines and impossible records that a 25-year-old Slovenian accomplished, which even some of the best in the game could not achieve.”

The fact is, although beloved stars are getting older, the NBA is in the hands of several exceptional players who will make great strides and undoubtedly become basketball icons. Even if all-time greats like Curry and James transformed the game, it doesn’t justify ignoring the new generation. We get it, the “good old days” are fun to look back on, but if you stay stuck in the past, you’ll miss what’s right in front of you.