The explanation is easy and the Left won’t acknowledge it.
I know personally about twenty former NBA fans who will no longer watch because of the politics. It’s very simple, really.
National Basketball ratings are low. Since the game does not draw as many eyeballs as expected IMO there should be commensurate drops in advertising revenue, TV payout to the league and less money to the players.
Maybe the management of the league, the owners of the franchises and the players could ideally leave the USA, and live and play basketball in China. The money may not be as grand but at least they would be a happy family in Communist China.