Shaquille O’Neal does not share the concern of many that a small-market NBA Finals contest between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder will be bad for the league.
O’Neal was asked about the relatively small markets of Indiana and Oklahoma City and whether that would have a negative effect on the Finals. He brushed it off, suggesting that the game’s reach on social media would make up for it.
“The day of the big market or small market has been over,” O’Neal said in an interview with Sports Seriously. “Social media will carry it. The way that guys play will carry it. … Everybody wants it to be New York and L.A. Well, apparently those teams ain’t good enough for it to be there.”
It is likely inevitable that TV ratings for this series will be down, but a competitive series will draw hype on social media. That is the most interesting part of Shaq’s take. He spent much of his career in large markets, but recognizes that now players can drive interest in themselves and their personality by breaking through on social media even if they do not play in a place like New York or Los Angeles. Gilgeous-Alexander and especially Tyrese Haliburton have both done that.
The Finals are set to start Thursday in Oklahoma City. Shaq is clearly looking forward to it, even without a big market involved.
