In the NFL, small market teams, like Baltimore, Buffalo, or Cincinnati, get talked about as a team, whether good or bad. No media members ask QB/stars to ask for a trade usually. There seems to be a respect for the competition. In the NBA, every small market team seems to be ignored. It seems like everything revolves around the Lakers or the bigger market teams. Like how can disgruntled stars end up there. Obviously, Lakers are huge, but you would think the nuggets didn’t play yesterday with the lack of discussion around them.
How would anyone think the Nuggets didn’t play yesterday? When people were talking about the Lakers playing the Nuggets?
Anyway, the Cavs led SportsCenter when they had LeBron. OKC with KD and Russ. Milwaukee with Giannis. Denver with Jokic. Spurs seemed to get some hype when they had Duncan. Though, I’ve not heard them mentioned a billion times in the last few months. Since they got Wemby. Pacers were mentioned a lot back in the Reggie Days or back when PG was leading them to playoff battles vs the Heat. I had seen the Blazers on TV a time or two back in the 90s or back when they were good with Dame. Etc., etc.
What I’m saying is small market teams get exposure/respect when they are good and/or have entertaining talent.