Mark Tatum On NBA's Ratings Surge, New Media Deals And Global Expansion Plans

Summary

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum discusses the league's record ratings driven by competitive games and star talent, the contribution of new media partners NBC and Amazon, the NBA's global expansion plans in Europe and Africa, potential domestic expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, anti-tanking draft changes, and the use of AI technology for officiating.

• NBA regular season and playoff ratings hit multi-decade highs, attributed to great competition and talent.
• New media rights partners NBC and Amazon are praised for storytelling and growing fan engagement.
• NBA Europe plans to launch in 2027 with 12 candidate cities, seeking investors to build world-class arenas and develop grassroots basketball.
• Basketball Africa League is in its sixth season, contributing $250M to Africa's GDP, projected to rise to $5.4B by 2034.
• The league is evaluating expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle, while also considering other markets like Mexico City and Vancouver.
• Anti-tanking proposal would flatten draft lottery odds to disincentivize losing, with a three-year sunset for reassessment.
• Competition committee is exploring AI-assisted officiating for goal-tending and other calls.