In the wake of the Times article on Nichols, however, one has to question the sincerity in Nichols’ claims and story.Īt the end of this back-and-forth between Nichols and a beleaguered Timberwolves fanbase, it is clear that the media is not doing any favors for Minnesota basketball. Recency bias would show that this comes at the expense of the Wolves, but the reality is that many small-market teams are subjugated to treatment in this manner. It’s easy to rag on the little guy, and unsuccessful franchises make easy punching bags for the bourgeoisie of the NBA. Narratives such as the ones mentioned above come as active detriments to small-market teams. In an era where super-teams are prevalent, and the rich franchises are getting richer, the proletariat franchises (you know the ones) are fighting hammer and sickle tooth and nail to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive league. It would be ignorant to say that the media does not play a role in player decisions and outlook, and players’ perceptions of situations are often at stake based on the press they receive. The recent Nichols news, paired with her past relationship with the Timberwolves, amplifies that notion even more. This journalism helps create a culture of hot-takes and reality-TV-like drama that encapsulates the attention of the lowest common denominator of viewers. This is great for clicks and, therefore, revenue but otherwise harmful to entire markets with a slim margin for error. It is a great respite that we happen to be blessed with a small-market Finals for the ages this year between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ratings, whatever they are, are not a metric for good television and good competition. NBA fans should be thankful for this breath of fresh air and that we can watch two young, new, talented teams compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy. “If you don’t like the news, go out and make some of your own.” Rachel Nichols used to have the following quote in her Twitter bio: Despite some disappointing coverage of the superstars in the finals not named Chris Paul, one has to think that the coverage of the non-coastal franchises will shift towards the positive in future seasons. Let’s hope that if any news is manufactured henceforth from journalists, it does not come at the expense of struggling small-market franchises. The NBA as a whole will be better for it.: NBA – The crazy ole-ole rumor about Jimmy Butler and Rachel NicholsĮntangled in a racist scandal, Rachel Nichols is not receiving the most glowing comments of her career on the networks these days. At the same time, the journalist fromESPN is the subject of incredible gossip linking her to… Jimmy Butler!Īs she rightly pointed out in her last speech, journalists do not have a duty to BE the information. Yet it is in this position that Rachel Nichols has found herself in recent days.
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