According to two Oklahoma City Thunder players, media members have more complaints about the NBA landscape than fans do, or at least, they push these ideas onto impressionable fans. Whether discussing the quantity of three-point shots, the search for the next “face of the NBA,” or the general lack of enthusiasm for the NBA All-Star Game, national media outlets have been vocal about their concerns regarding the current state of the league.
During an appearance on The Young Man and The Three podcast with Tommy Alter, Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso expressed their frustration with how the sport is being covered, asserting that national media members aren’t watching games closely, if at all. “I think a lot of it is the national media,” Williams noted. “They don’t be watching the games either, if I am being honest. They are what drives it, I think. Whatever they push out is what people are going to respond to. The media’s perception influences what fans think. For instance, take the foul situation with Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander). He should be going to the free-throw line more; he leads the NBA in drives, yet we’re among the lowest free-throw shooting teams. It’s frustrating because the way he gets fouled doesn’t get the acknowledgment it deserves. Just watch the games.”
Caruso echoed Williams, discussing how ESPN’s SportsCenter has evolved over the years and reflects a shift in sports media coverage. “It’s become cool to not watch basketball,” Caruso remarked. “It’s all about entertainment value—clip farming and highlights over the substance of the game. I miss the old SportsCenter with a good 7-8 minutes of highlights followed by the top ten plays at the top of the hour. Now, it focuses more on what is entertaining, on eye-catching storylines, which unfortunately captures fans’ attention rather than promoting really good basketball.”
“I think a lot of it is the national media, they don’t watch the games either if we’re being honest.” — Jalen Williams on the impact of the media on the current landscape of the NBA pic.twitter.com/6CSJvcbn9k
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) April 5, 2025
What Williams and Caruso share resonates. Nationally televised games tend to attract the bulk of attention, especially with personalities like Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal often criticizing the current product during broadcasts, leading fans to believe that the state of the modern NBA requires some adjustments. They’re not alone in this sentiment; Brooklyn Nets star Cam Johnson recently voiced similar concerns about how sports media narratives detract from the present NBA experience.
As for Williams and Caruso’s assertion that national media members aren’t watching games, it may depend on which individuals they’re referencing. For instance, Shaquille O’Neal has openly admitted he “doesn’t watch Detroit,” despite the Pistons’ remarkable turnaround this season, which should be a prominent story in the league.
Some of the frustration from Williams and Caruso may stem from how their own team has been depicted this season. Although the Thunder have gained national attention due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP candidacy, their strong regular season suggests they deserve even more recognition as a team.
Regardless, Williams and Caruso firmly believe that national media outlets negatively influence perceptions of the NBA, and their arguments are compelling enough that it’s challenging to disagree with their insights.