The debate over the NBA’s national standing compared to the NHL resurfaced Monday on The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima, as Lima argued that, despite persistent criticism, pro basketball remains in a far stronger position than hockey across the country.
For weeks, sports media conversations have centered on perceived problems surrounding the NBA, including load management, regular-season intensity and fluctuating ratings. Yet Lima suggested that even the league’s most mocked storylines underscore its relevance.
“What has everybody had fun doing over the last three weeks?” Lima said. “Make fun of the NBA, right? And kill the NBA because of the many reasons. Justifiable — you don’t even hear me making excuses on a lot of those things that people crush the NBA for. But then we’ll get to the Stanley Cup, and it’ll get a sixth of the rating that the NBA Finals get.”
Lima clarified that he was not dismissing hockey’s on-ice product. He praised the intensity and drama of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Instead, he centered the debate on national visibility and sustained media conversation. In those areas, he argued the NBA holds a clear edge over the NHL.
“The NBA is so much healthier,” Lima said. “The thing that everybody makes fun of is exponentially healthier than the NHL.”
His comments came as the NHL attempts to carry momentum from the Winter Olympics into its playoff push. International competition, especially games featuring the United States and Canada, generated significant buzz and drew strong engagement from fans who do not regularly follow the league.
Lima acknowledged the energy surrounding Olympic hockey, calling it “appointment viewing” and questioning how often sports truly provide that kind of must-watch moment.
“That was awesome,” he said. “Appointment viewing yesterday. And in sports, how much appointment viewing do you truly get like you got yesterday?”
However, he expressed uncertainty about whether the NHL can convert that attention into long-term growth. While Olympic matchups can introduce new names and create temporary excitement, Lima questioned whether those impressions will linger once the focus returns to the grind of the regular season and early playoff rounds.
“Are we going to get together and go, ‘What’s wrong with the NHL? Crisis in the NHL!’” Lima said. “I just think the NHL is where it’s at. … But they need to capitalize on this now. And I don’t know if the NHL will ever be able to do that.”
Ultimately, Lima’s argument centered on scale. The NBA, he contended, dominates national debate cycles, fuels daily programming across television and radio and commands significantly higher championship ratings, even when critics highlight its flaws. Meanwhile, the NHL, though compelling at its peak, still fights for broader relevance beyond its core markets.
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