The Golden State Warriors were one of the most controversial talking points during the NBA schedule reveal, with them and the Los Angeles Lakers once again leading the league in nationally televised games for the 2024-25 season.
Including games broadcast on NBA TV, the Lakers have 39 games broadcast on national television, followed by the Warriors with 36. The defending champion Boston Celtics and fellow Eastern Conference contenders the New York Knicks are next with 34 each.
Not everyone is thrilled to see the Lakers and Warriors dominate the league on nationally televised games. The latter failed to make the playoffs last season after finishing 10th in the Western Conference. The Lakers only earned a spot through the play-in tournament, before being quickly eliminated by the Denver Nuggets.
One of the critics was former Golden State coach George Karl, who took to social media to say: “The number of domestic games for LAL and GSW will be greater than their total wins.”
The number of domestic games for LAL and GSW will be greater than their total wins
Orlando deserves more games https://t.co/oxcAOryDc4
– George Karl (@CoachKarl22) August 15, 2024
Karl may be right to condemn the number of nationally televised games both teams broadcast, but it is comical and stupid to think that neither team will win more than 38 games (assuming the 73-year-old is serious in his statement).
Most bookmakers have the Warriors and Lakers at 43.5 over/under, with Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey predicting both teams will go over that mark in a matchup. recent article predict the win-loss record of each NBA team.
Regardless of the team aspect, the national television schedule reiterates the NBA’s faith in Stephen Curry and LeBron James as the faces of the league despite their 36 and 39 years, respectively. The duo’s stardom was also on display at the recent Paris Olympics, with James winning tournament MVP and Curry being by far the most important player in Team USA’s semifinals and finals against Serbia and France.
Karl coached the Warriors for two seasons between 1986 and 1988, leading the franchise to a 58-88 record in 146 games. He then coached four other NBA teams between 1992 and 2016, including the Denver Nuggets, where he won NBA Coach of the Year in 2013.
