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History of NBA: The Success Behind the Big League

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nba logo

The NBA (National Basketball Association) is a household name worldwide. Everyone recognizes the logo, the commercials, and the basketball teams. That’s because this big league established itself in 1946 and has grown into this lucrative and prosperous business that every basketball fanatic loves. But how did the NBA claim this global success? Learn about the history of NBA here.

History of NBA: How it Started

Deemed the most significant professional sports league in the U.S. and Canada, the NBA is a favorite basketball league among most men worldwide. It’s a professional basketball league in North America and has 29 teams in the United States, with only one team in Canada. Overall, the NBA has 30 of the best basketball teams with the best talents in the world. 

The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946, in New York City, with Maurice Podoloff as its first president and commissioner. Its original name was BAA, which means Basketball Association of America. It then merged with its competitor, which is another basketball league called National Basketball League (NBL). And this is when the league changed its name to National Basketball Association (NBA). 

The NBA’s basketball season is from October to April, with playoffs extending into June, with each team playing 82 games. And as of 2020, NBA players are the highest-paid athletes based on average annual salary yearly. 

These are the 30 NBA teams:

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Boston Celtics
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Charlotte Hornets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Orlando Magic
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Sacramento Kings
  • San Antonio Spurs
  • Toronto Raptors
  • Utah Jazz
  • Washington Wizards

The Reason for NBA’s Success

nba players

NBA is the most successful sports league globally, amassing billions in revenue. And this is due to how innovative this professional basketball league is. For decades, it had to catch up to its competing sports leagues such as football and baseball. 

Moreover, the NBA is also the first league to transform its all-star game into a three-day weekend packed with fun events with impressive turnouts. The NBA is also responsible for turning NBA players into global stars due to worldwide broadcasting. The NBA dominated the other top sports league in America, the Major League Baseball.

Since it’s not a public company, the league doesn’t disclose detailed public financial reports. But one Forbes report that shows valuations of all 30 NBA teams, the league’s revenue in the 2018 to 2019 season reached around $8.6 billion. 

Each one of the teams is valued at $1 billion, and one team on average is worth $2.2 billion. This is about 14 percent higher than the former 2017 to 2018 season.

It’s no surprise why NBA players are the best-paid athletes in the world. Plus, it certainly also doesn’t shock everyone why the NBA’s revenue could reach up to billions. And that’s because the league amasses its revenue from several streams.

Revenue from TV

While many would like to see the action live on a court, many people also prefer to watch games on TV. And this is why NBA’s television revenue is a major part of its success. The league has garnered several television contracts that continue to increase over the years. 

During the 2016 to 2017 season, ESPN and TNT had to re-up their contracts to approximately $24 billion. It was a nine-year deal that earned the NBA around $2.6 billion per year. 

The NBA also had to ramp up TV advertisements, which is also one of the reasons why the league gained popularity over time. 

Revenue from merch

Another significant contributor to NBA’s revenue is merchandise, which accounts for around $1 billion annually. During the 2017 to 2018 season, the teams wore advertisements on their jerseys for the first time in the history of NBA. This is called the Jersey Patch revenue, which lets teams take home $9.3 million annually. 

Another revenue from merch is sponsorships. The NBA also gets sponsorship from major brands like Nike and Adidas, with contracts amounting to billions. 

Revenue from tickets

The ticket sales aren’t the NBA’s primary source of revenue. However, it still stacks up to incredible sales every season. For instance, tickets are sold at around $70 each. Multiply that by 15,000 to 20,000 attendees. You do the math. 

Worst draft in the history of NBA

basketball on hardwood court

According to experts, the worst draft in the history of the NBA was the 2000 NBA draft on June 28, 2000. It was the only draft wherein a college senior was considered the top overall selection. 

The only top pic was Kenyon Martin, first-rounder Jamaal Magloire, and second-rounder Michael Redd. 

Most high-performing teams

top nba players

The top NBA players have been gaining stardom globally, with fanatics giving their full support in every game. These NBA legends list continues to grow, with names in each new generation. 

Some of the best players in NBA history are:

  • Micheal Jordan
  • Bill Russell
  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  • WIlt Chamberlain
  • Magic Johnson
  • Larry Bird
  • Oscar Robertson
  • John Havlicek
  • Rick Barry
  • John Stockton
  • Karl Malone
  • Elgin Baylor
  • David Robinson
  • Julius Erving
  • Charles Barkley
  • Tim Duncan
  • Kobe Bryant
  • Kevin Garnett
  • Shaquille O’Neal
  • Steve Nash
  • Dirk Nowitzki
  • Allen Iverson and more!

It’s hard to establish who the best-performing teams are in the NBA. But the Boston Celtics have the most wins in the history of the NBA, with 3,513. The San Antonio Spurs carry the highest win-loss percentage, which is 2,261 to 1,442. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves show the lowest win-loss percentage at 1,049 to 1,581. If you want to know the NBA team standings, check the official page.

Conclusion

The sports league juggernaut isn’t slowing down anytime soon. As long as basketball fans are still raving about their favorite teams and players, it’s no surprise this basketball league will enjoy revenue increases in the coming years.

For other stories, read more here at Owner’s Mag!

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Taylor Swift’s Fortune: The Billionaire Behind The Eras Tour

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taylor swift eras tour

Taylor Swift’s journey in music has been nothing but extraordinary, phenomenal, even. From a young country music singer-songwriter to a global pop culture icon, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a successful artist. With a $1.6 billion real-time net worth as of this writing, her fortune is built not only on her musical talent but also from her savvy business acumen and deep connection with her fans.

Taylor Swift’s Rise to Stardom

Image Source: Forbes

First making a name in the world of country music, Taylor Swift began her musical journey as a teenage prodigy. She signed with Big Machine Records at the age of 14, and by 2006, she had released her self-titled album. 

This gained her much-needed attention, thanks to the incredible mix of catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and a distinct country-pop sound. A few tracks (Tim McGraw and Teardrops on My Guitar) became instant hits and anthems for her young listeners. Swift’s amazing ability to capture the complexities of adolescence resonated loudly with fans and, with much authenticity, built her a loyal following.

The release of her 2014 album, 1989, showcased Swift’s exploration of a broader musical territory. Her transition from country to pop was met with critical and commercial success, paving the way for a larger global audience and expanding her reach beyond country music. This album cemented her position as a mainstream pop icon.

Since then, Swift has garnered recognition, including 12 Grammy Awards, while solidifying her status as a cultural icon.

The Business of Taylor Swift

Another significant component of Taylor Swift’s success comes from her keen business acumen. Early in her career, she made one of her most strategic moves: securing the ownership of her songwriting rights. Her deal with Big Machine Records resulted in the label owning the rights to her first six albums.

To gain control over her creative work, Swift rerecorded and rereleased her music, calling them Taylor’s Versions. This was met with immense commercial success while raising awareness about the challenges artists face in the music industry. This positioned her as a voice for change and a powerful advocate for fellow musicians.

The business savvy didn’t end with Taylor Swift’s music. Endorsements, investments, and partnerships also added to her wealth. Then there’s the merchandising empire, which is a huge part of Taylor Swift’s financial success. Swifties, as her fans call themselves, are fiercely loyal and would buy exclusive merch tied to Swift’s albums, tours, and personal branding.

The Financial Impact of “The Eras Tour”

Image Source: Taylor Swift website

And the buck doesn’t stop there. The Eras Tour has been a game-changer for Taylor Swift. It set new records and reshaped the live music industry. It became one of the highest-grossing in history, with some estimates at over a billion dollars in revenue. While it showcases her universal appeal, it also boosted economies in cities around the world.

Each of Swift’s performances became a celebration of her musical journey. They were replete with stunning stage designs, elaborate setlists, and personal storytelling, creating an immersive experience that gave the show a once-in-a-lifetime feel.

The influx of Swifties impacted host cities economically. Local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and transportation benefited greatly from the tour. 

Taylor Swift: The Savvy Businesswoman

Carefully managing her brand and image led Taylor Swift to success beyond her music. She evolved with her audience but remained true to her values. Controlling her narrative, she has crafted a relatable yet aspirational persona that resonates well with millions. 

Additionally, Swift has aligned her brand with various social causes, reinforcing her image as a musician and entrepreneur who uses her success to make a positive impact. She does this by using her platform to speak out on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, women’s empowerment, political activism, and overall encouraging change.

The Road to a Billion

Taylor Swift’s road to billionaire status is a result of her diverse income streams. We now know her wealth comes from music royalties, specifically The Eras Tour, merchandise sales, and smart investments. She further strengthened her financial portfolio by investing in real estate, tech companies, and her own production company.

When you compare her to other artists who have reached billionaire status, such as Rihanna and Jay-Z, you’ll see that her success is distinguished by her complete control over her music and brand. While others entered other industries like fashion and beauty, Swift focused on her music, tours, and merchandise, creating a self-sustaining financial empire.

The Cultural Phenomenon

Image Source: Taylor Swift website

There is no doubt, Taylor Swift is a cultural phenomenon, and this is thanks to her enduring connection with her fanbase, the Swifties. She has built a solid relationship with them through genuine interactions, storytelling, and a sense of community. She has shown an openness in social media that, alongside her relatable lyrics, connected her with fans on a deeper and more personal level.

Taylor Swift has indeed shaped pop culture and the entertainment industry by setting trends, challenging norms, and advocating for causes she believes in. From fashion trends to how artists navigate their careers, Swift has made her impact. Most importantly, her authenticity has set her apart.

She has displayed the ability to evolve musically while maintaining her values, earning her the loyalty of her diverse following. Her lyrics are deeply personal, touching on various subjects like love, heartbreak, and self-discovery, echoing the sentiments of her listeners on a universal level.

Final Thoughts

From a country music star to a global icon, Taylor Swift has to thank her unparalleled talent, strategic thinking, and deep connection to her fans. Her savvy business moves, groundbreaking tours, and authenticity have helped her amass a fortune while transforming her into a cultural phenomenon.

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On The Count Of Three Review

A past-due calling card for actor-director Jerrod Carmichael

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WARNING: This review, and this film, contain discussions of suicide.

A Dark Premise, A Wobbly Execution

“On the Count of Three” opens with a bold premise: two childhood friends make a suicide pact and spend their last day on Earth tying up loose ends. It’s certainly fresh, but what makes “On the Count of Three” feel oddly stale despite its originality?

It’s not that we’ve seen too many comedies about suicide before. It does, I suppose, bear some resemblance to other race-against-the-clock (Good Time) or apocalyptic (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World) comedies. Maybe it doesn’t commit to darkness as much as these comedies; there’s certainly a humanist core deep down here.

But I think we all sort of know why this movie can’t fully work in 2022: it’s a movie Jerrod Carmichael made in 2020. The director and star has seen a long-overdue rise to stardom in these past months after a series of false starts. He’d already had a breakout role in a hit comedy, a sitcom starring vehicle, a special directed by Spike Lee, and a recurring feature on 2019’s biggest album.

Last month, the stars finally aligned. He came out as gay, dropped a smash-hit comedy special, and hosted SNL all in the span of a week. It’s no surprise that Annapurna Pictures quickly moved to release On the Count of Three, which they picked up at Sundance in January 2021.

On the count of three: two men are talking

Here’s the rub: On the Count of Three lacks the self-assuredness of Carmichael’s recent rise. It doesn’t feel like the film, or the version of this film, that he would’ve made today. His performance as both actor and director is good, but held to a certain restriction.

Two Leads, One Day, A Lot of Pain

Carmichael plays Val, a down-on-his-luck laborer who ventures to commit suicide with the help of his recently-hospitalized friend Kevin (Christopher Abbott). 

While there’s a certain comical bleakness to Val’s life—he essentially shovels dirt for a living—there’s an interesting idea of suicidal ideation here. Val’s thoughts of killing himself don’t come from stagnation or trauma, but from dissatisfaction with achievement. He makes his first attempt right after getting a promotion, and we later learn that he had planned to propose to his now-pregnant partner, Natasha (Tiffany Haddish).

As director, Carmichael wisely avoids eating up the film and splits lead duties with Abbott. If anything, Abbott gets the real star showcase here, again proving his dynamic magnetism after a series of weirdo indie turns like Vox Lux, Possessor, and Black Bear.

The Black Comedy Balancing Act

Still, there’s a classic comedic duo chemistry here. Carmichael is the rock around which Abbott orbits. The setup also gives them plenty of opportunities to subvert that dynamic. When Val’s confrontation with his father (J.B. Smoove) gets heated, Kevin has to be the one to pull him back. But, when they come to blows, Kevin’s the one with the tire iron.

On the count of three, Penn and Teller get killed

Black comedy is always a tricky balancing act. Penn and Teller Get Killed is notorious for going all-in on nihilism and failing to connect. I think this film mostly succeeds, but its uncertainty with its own dark philosophy is, again, reflective of a more self-conscious point in Carmichael’s career.

Bleak, But Also Soft Around the Edges

In Kevin’s first scene, he delivers a monologue about how doctors have been trying to fix him since he was eight years old, and if his life was worth saving, they’d have done it by now. Much of the film follows Kevin’s quest to kill a childhood doctor who molested him (played by Henry Winkler). Ultimately, it’s Val who pulls the trigger, but only after he decides to choose life. His decision to choose life only comes after a guilt trip from Natasha, who lays out how he’ll still be guilty in death if he abdicates his responsibility as a father.

All of which is to say, this is in many ways a philosophically bleak movie. But at the same time, the humanism of the direction kind of betrays that philosophy. There are a lot of monsters around the central players here, but the cashiers, receptionists, and other random side characters they meet along the way are given a stark innocence.

That Ending: On The Count of Three

I’m not sure how I feel about any of this. Is it too bleak? Not bleak enough? Or just not made with enough confidence to come out strongly in either direction? Whatever the case, I think this movie hums along perfectly fine. Until the last minute.

For the most part, On the Count of Three is very insular. We’re never not following Val and Kevin, and it takes place over the course of a day that they spend almost completely alone. 

The final shot, which I won’t give away, finally pulls us out. We recognize that Val’s story is one of a million stories, all different, all wrestling with life and death, and all ending in the same rotten place. It’s certainly the most striking ending I’ve seen this year, and it made me think twice about the film overall.

On the count of three: a man with gun

Final Thoughts

When I’m reflecting on this year, I don’t think On the Count of Three will end up one of my favorites. Seeing how far Carmichael has come, this film’s steady, dry lob isn’t the catapult that Annapurna hoped it would be. Still, it’s a perfectly solid film. It’s absolutely worth seeing for its final shot alone. B
On the Count of Three is now playing at Landmark’s Ritz Five and available on digital.

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Failure to Launch: Why Pixar’s Lightyear is a Box Office Dud

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This summer’s movie season is now in full swing, and turnout is strong. Franchise films are facing a decline in dominance, but still hold a significant portion of the box office. In addition, original hits have proven that fresh storytelling can still break through.

Of course, challenges are there. With streaming habits, changing audience expectations, and the unpredictability of box office trends, studios are being kept on their toes. But one thing has remained constant: Pixar’s tentpole releases reliably soar past the billion-dollar mark.

Or so we thought.

pixar's lightyear
Image Credit: Pixar Wiki

Just before the pandemic, Pixar crossed a billion with Toy Story 4, one year after crushing it with Incredibles 2. Now, after a string of Disney+ releases, they’ve taken another big swing with the Toy Story spinoff Lightyear

Then, bullish projections had Lightyear nearing a nine-figure opening weekend and cruising to $500m from there. Instead, the family-friendly tentpole opened second, failing to surpass a plummeting Jurassic World Dominion.

Why did Lightyear flop?

You probably seen the headline: Lightyear bombs. Disappointing on its face, but the ramifications go far beyond the potential for a Woody’s Roundup spinoff film.

The past couple Pixar films (Soul, Luca, Turning Red) released exclusively on Disney+. Many maligned the shafting of these exciting animated films. It’s especially upsetting for Turning Red, which could’ve easily been one of 2022’s runaway box office hits.

Lightyear is the test. A new direction for Pixar’s biggest franchise. The most means-tested Pixar film gets the theatrical boost, and if it does well, the other movies follow. For this reason, it is a big deal that Lightyear flopped. So, what happened?

pixar's lightyear
Image Credit: Pixar Wiki

If you frequent Facebook, you’ve no doubt seen the “get woke go broke” narrative. A gay kiss, which was removed from the film and added back after Disney’s March “Don’t Say Gay” controversy, has gotten the film banned in several countries. Domestic concern trolls like Ben Shapiro, enamored by Saudi Arabia’s officially-sanctioned bigotry, ratcheted up scare pieces on the film in the past week.

In today’s new heights of parental hysteria, it wouldn’t surprise me if a few thousand families stayed home due to right-wing fearmongering. Still, history doesn’t really support the notion that this would have a substantial impact on box office. Multiverse of Madness made big bank with equally-major LGBTQ+ characters. If anything, it could be said that these films’ lack of a Chinese release upsets their box office returns, but that doesn’t explain a poor opening weekend.

buzz lightyear
Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 2

Still others have pointed to the shafting of Tim Allen, replaced in the role of Buzz by Chris Evans. Allen’s performance in the Toy Story movies is iconic and truly fantastic. Still, I question the notion that $30 million went missing from beleaguered Tim Allen fans.

The other explanation? Marketing. Lightyear got off on the wrong foot with an unclear premise. Evans’ ill-fated explanation tweet only made matters worse. Is this about a real Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story universe?

One could argue that even today, Disney hasn’t totally gotten their story straight. The movie itself explains that this is the movie that the Buzz Lightyear toy comes from. An ‘80s sci-fi movie that Andy saw. In theaters. In 1995. That’s styled like a 2022 blockbuster. You can see how people got lost.

On the other hand, we might just be asking the wrong question.

Did Lightyear flop?

pixar's lightyear
Image Credit: Disney Pixar

Of course, it’s too early to say definitively if Lightyear is a flop. That’s not what I’m arguing here.

We’re dealing with a case of Hollywood math, the same system by which Suicide Squad’s $750m profit is considered a dismal failure. Disney had the wrong idea about this movie as soon as they pushed it for a tentpole opening.

Lightyear’s $50m opening puts it in league with Coco and Cars 3, solidly ahead of true Pixar flops like The Good Dinosaur and Onward. It’s the highest opening for an animated film since Frozen II. With a COVID handicap still in play, that’s impressive.

Pixar’s mistake was to angle for a major franchise opening. They applied a post-pandemic framework to the nine-figure openings of Toy Story 4 and Finding Dory. They thought, reasonably enough, that parents would pay big money to turn out for a new, fresh installment in the beloved Toy Story franchise.

pixar's lightyear
Image Credit: Disney Pixar

Herein lies the real problem. Lightyear is not, in any meaningful sense, a Toy Story movie. It has name recognition, which Hollywood has come to treat as a golden rule over the past two decades. But it follows a completely different character, played by a completely different actor, in a completely different world.

Like I said earlier, Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear is truly great. But the character is only a toy with an inflated ego, being constantly hit in the face by reality like Sideshow Bob stepping on infinite rakes. So much as wondering about “the real Buzz Lightyear” misses the point of the character.

Lightyear may marginally be a victim of conservative backlash, or poor promotion, or even COVID woes. But fundamentally, it’s a victim of its own premise.

What happens now?

disney pixar elemental
Image Credit: Disney Pixar

Pixar’s next film, Elemental, is already slated for a theatrical release next summer. Barring a huge COVID flare-up or other societal collapse, they probably won’t go back on that. Down the line, other Pixar flicks in development may be looking at streaming releases if Disney has their way.

If anything, The Bad Guys’ recent success proves feature animation is doing fine. In a few weeks, the new Minions movie will likely confirm that. November’s Strange World will tell us if Disney’s animation department has any sort of long-term problem.

I can’t really recommend that you see Lightyear—in fairness, I haven’t seen it myself. If you want variety at the movies, the answer isn’t to support whatever Disney puts out. Live a little and see something out of your comfort zone. If Lightyear’s fate is already sealed, at least it won’t be at the expense of film as a whole.

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