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    The summer months post-NBA finals and before the start of the football season are often the slowest months for sports. However, the NBA is on a quest to become a consistent presence throughout the year, not just during the summer. The league already dominates the spring and summer months with the NBA playoffs and the Las Vegas Summer League. In the 2023 NBA playoffs, ABC, TNT, and ESPN averaged just over five million viewers across all three networks, making the 2023 playoffs one of the most watched NBA playoffs in five years. Over 13 million viewers watched Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a 1% increase. The growth in viewership is a testament to the NBA’s growing popularity and audience. 

    Las Vegas Summer League 

    During its opening weekend, the Las Vegas Summer League attracted over 400,000 viewers, marking a milestone for ESPN as a broadcast network. One of the driving factors behind this increased interest was the presence of the San Antonio Spurs’ top draft pick, Victor Wembanyama. Standing at an impressive 7’5″, the French sensation has made waves in basketball, particularly after showcasing his dominant skills in the French professional leagues.

    The popularity of Wembanyama’s debut game closely rivaled Zion Williamson’s highly anticipated debut in 2019, demonstrating the intrigue surrounding Wembanyama’s NBA career. Moreover, this year’s Las Vegas Summer League was accompanied by the launch of the inaugural NBA Con. This three-day cultural event merged basketball, music, fashion, cuisine, art, and technology. There were exclusive giveaways, concerts featuring 2Chainz, and panels with NBA stars. Wembanyama led a discussion on the main stage alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar amidst the buzz surrounding his first Summer League game at NBA Con, showcasing how basketball talent and captivating cultural experiences intersect.

    The NBA vs. The NFL 

    With its first annual in-season tournament, the NBA is making a significant move to compete with the NFL. The final four games of the tournament will be played in Las Vegas starting November 3. The WNBA tested and proved this concept previously. Las Vegas already has an NFL franchise with the Raiders, and the NBA will also get a franchise. Beyond the Las Vegas Summer League, the NBA now boasts premier sports offerings with NBA Con and an in-season tournament. The NFL is also increasing its competition for viewers and fans this season by featuring games on Black Friday and Christmas.

    In the sports world, the NBA is determined to be a year-round presence, and its efforts are yielding impressive results. With the NBA playoffs and the Las Vegas Summer League, the league has attracted millions of viewers during the spring and summer months, showing its dominance in its growing popularity and wide-reaching appeal. NBA Con and the Las Vegas Summer League have contributed to this momentum, offering fans captivating experiences on and off the court. As well as competing with the NFL beyond the summer months, the NBA is establishing itself as a premier sports offering with its first annual in-season tournament launch. As the competition between the two teams heats up, NBA and NFL fans can look forward to a year-round sports experience like no other.

    NBA FAQs

    How do you win NBA pick'em pool?

    In order to win an NBA Pick'Em pool, players must have the most points at the end of the season. For each correct pick during the regular season, members will receive one point (customizable based on the pool commissioner). Some pools will choose picks based on the spread or straight up.

    What is NBA pick'em pool?

    In an NBA Pick'Em pool, players make weekly picks (either against the point spread or straight-up). The number of picks each week is customizable by the pool commissioner. Optional best-bet and confidence pick settings can be put into place as well. Commissioners can use a hosting site like RunYourPool to keep up with scoring and calculations.

    How to play an NBA basketball pool?

    The way one plays a basketball pool varies on the game type. For example, in Pick'em Pools, you simply pick every game each week.

    How to run a weekly basketball pool?

    In order to run a basketball pool, you must first crown yourself as Pool Commissioner. Begin by picking a game type like Survivor or Pick'Em. You'll want to establish rules before inviting friends, family, and colleagues to join. As commissioner, you make the rules and also need to enforce them equally and fairly.

    How do you win NBA Survivor Pool?

    In NBA Survivor, the last player standing wins. The name of the game is to make it to the next week. A member will select one game from all the games in that given week. If members choose the correct winner, they move on to the next week. If they pick incorrectly, they are eliminated from the contest.

    What is NBA Surivor Pool?

    In an NBA Survivor pool, players choose one NBA team each week that they believe will win. They may only pick a team one time per season. Picks are made "straight up," not using a point spread system. If their pick is correct, they survive until the next week. An incorrect pick eliminates the player from the pool for the remainder of the season.

    What is a basketball pool?

    "Basketball Pool" is a broad term for a group of people competitively guessing the outcome of one or more basketball game. There are many types of formats, each assigning winners differently. They can be played informally between friends or through a more formalized system.

    How to make a basketball pool?

    A basketball pool generally requires the creation of a shareable spreadsheet (like Google Sheets) so that members may pick teams. Then depending on the game type, creators must use several kinds of formulas (e.g. CountIF), data validation, and conditional formatting. Or, you can just use basketball pool hosting services like RunYourPool where we do all the work for you!

    How do you win NBA Playoff Bracket Pool?

    In NBA Playoff Bracket pools, the winning entry is the team with the most points at the end of Playoffs. Members try to pick the winner of each playoff series. For each series, they also pick how many games they think the series will go. Points are awarded for each winning pick, with bonus points for how close they come to the correct series length

    What is an NBA Playoff Bracket Pool?

    In an NBA Playoff Bracket pool, players pick the winner of each NBA Playoff series. Commissioners can choose to have members receive bonus points for guessing the series length. Points increase as the tournament progresses (points per round are configurable by the commissioner). The winning entry is the player with the most points at the end of the playoffs.

    Are there other Playoff Pools?

    Yes! RunYourPool offers plenty of contest types for various playoff events! March Madness squares and bracket pools aer very popular among basketball fanatics, while the Super Bowl Prop Pool is the most popular annual event game.

    How to set up a basketball pool?

    To set up a basketball pool, you'll need to first choose a pool type like Survivor or Pick'em. Then, you'll need to set the ground rules. As pool commissioner, you'll enforce these rules and make sure the game runs smoothly throughout the season. Many commissioners use pool hosting sites like RunYourPool to make it easier and more engaging.

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    About Author

    Matt Krol

    Matt is the Social Media Manager at RYP and currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He has experience managing social media accounts with agencies, small brands, and large companies. He’s a diehard New England sports fanatic, and if he’s not watching the Celtics, he can be found roaming around Boston discovering all that the city has to offer.

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