The new NBA schedule was released earlier this week for the upcoming 2024-25 season, getting everyone excited for the new year. The schedule release included the number of times that each NBA team would be shown on a nationally televised game.
Read more: How Many National TV Games Does Every Team Have in 2024-25 Season?
The Los Angeles Lakers led the way, with 39 of their games being broadcast on national television. The Golden State Warriors were second on the list, with 36 nationally televised games for the season.
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This is nothing new with the NBA, as the league tends to highlight bigger markets and teams. Both the Lakers and Warriors have large fanbases, giving the games the potential to have extremely high viewership.
However, this didn’t sit right with one former head coach. Former Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl took to social media after the schedule was released and took a shot at both the Lakers and Warriors.
“The number of national games for both LAL and GSW will be higher than their win totals. Orlando deserves more games.”
Last season, the Lakers finished with a record of 47-35 for the year. Golden State came in just under them, with a record of 46 wins.
According to Karl, both teams are in for massive regression.
Karl has been known as someone who hates the Lakers, stemming from his time with Denver facing Los Angeles in the playoffs multiple teams. The Lakers defeated Karl’s Nuggets in each match-up, leaving him a little bitter toward the historic franchise.
The former Coach of the Year mentioned that the Orlando Magic should have more games, and he is absolutely correct. Orlando finished last season as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round.
More news: Magic Star Paolo Banchero Believes Team Has ‘Chance to Win’ East This Season
The Magic also added in veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason, giving them more firepower in the Eastern Conference. However, the biggest issue for Magic would be the ratings of its viewers.
Everything the league does is to maximize its viewership, even if it means putting a worse team that has more star power on nationally televised broadcasts. Karl isn’t wrong per se, at least about Orlando needing more games, but his shot against both Golden State and Los Angeles was a little uncalled for.
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