Report: Nuggets still battling low TV ratings despite modest increase

Despite seeing their ratings climb by 8 percent, the Denver Nuggets have the fourth-worst local TV ratings this season among 27 NBA teams Sports Business Journal analyzed.

Only the Orlando Magic (0.61), Los Angeles Clippers (0.58), the Atlanta Hawks (0.58) and Brooklyn Nets (0.42) drew lower ratings on their respective regional sports networks. (It’s unclear how the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors rated because their numbers were not included in this report.)

The Nuggets narrowly missed the playoffs last season. They entered this year’s All-Star break with a 32-26 record — in position for a postseason appearance even though a wrist injury has limited Paul Millsap to 16 games.

Youngsters Nikola Jokic, 23, Gary Harris, 23, and Jamal Murray, 20, have led the way for Denver.

“In Murray, Jokic and Harris, Denver has one of the league’s most enviable collections of 23-and-under talent,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe wrote last week.

NBA ratings as a whole are up at both the national and local levels. Sports Business Journal reported ratings on ABC, ESPN, NBA TV and TNT are up 15 percent. Meanwhile, ratings on local sports networks have risen 7 percent from last year.

“These gains come as other sports have seen television viewership drop precipitously over the past several years,” John Lombardo and John Ourand of Sports Business Journal wrote. “For example, the NFL regular season posted a 9 percent drop in viewership last season across CBS, ESPN, Fox and NBC — a viewership drop that followed an 8 percent drop in 2016.”

The Warriors (8.87), Cavaliers (8.21), Thunder (7.01), Spurs (6.45) and Celtics (3.65) earned the best local TV ratings.

Overall, it appears the NBA is in a healthy place.