If you are like me, then you follow several different professional sports leagues. Amongst all of the sports that I watch, my favorites would have to be the NBA and the NFL. Both of these organizations have set themselves apart as some of the most popular leagues in the world. This is especially impressive for the NFL since the sport isn't played anywhere in the world besides in the United States. However, something that is important to notice is that ratings for the NFL and other leagues in the United States have been either stagnant or in decline these past few years. The one league that has managed to not fall victim to the apparent loss of interest in sports is the NBA.

Here are a few reasons why I think the NBA has managed to stay so popular despite the trends visible in other professional sports leagues.

Firstly, it is fairly obvious that the political atmosphere present in the National Football League has turned some viewers away from the organization. The NBA, while at times political, does not have many protests. A major aspect that I think is overlooked when it comes to studying the ratings of different sports leagues is the biological factors that go into what we find ourselves interested in. Humans crave relatability and a storyline which is certainly present in the NBA.

Every year, you will always hear of a massive free agent signing or a huge trade occurring that shakes up the entire outlook of the season ahead. The NFL is much quieter in that regard. There aren't many villains and there aren't many heroes. Another thing that the NFL lacks is the ability to adjust in order to increase competition. An example to look towards is the Pro Bowl vs the All-Star Game. In the NFL, the Pro Bowl has changed slightly but a lot of the league's top talents refuse to participate in the game due to the risk of injuries.

In the NBA, the All-Star game was one of the least competitive showcases in all of sports for several years. It wasn't until this last year that Commissioner Adam Silver decided to change the format entirely. He had LeBron James and Stephen Curry draft teams instead of the traditional East vs West format and also added in some extra incentive for competition with the winning team getting a certain amount of money to donate to a charity of their choice.

To conclude, there are a variety of reasons why the NBA is managing to keep its ratings at an all-time high while the other leagues suffer. Its ability to adapt and maintain a storyline that registers with its fans are just a few reasons why the organization has found a strategy that more professional sports leagues should be willing to follow.