WWE is the leading name in professional wrestling and despite recent competition from the likes of AEW, has remained in this top spot for decades. While WWE’s influence can be felt across the wrestling landscape, basketball legend Derek Fisher feels the promotion’s impact is being felt in the wider world of sports.
Speaking to Bryan Scott’s Fast Break podcast about how the NBA and basketball has changed, Fisher said that the sports has become far more about putting on an entertaining show than focusing on the game. The five-time NBA Champion compared this change to the WWF’s transformation into WWE in 2002 and the fan-centric experience of the modern-day product.
“When I watch the NBA today, I sometimes compare it to [when] the WWE was WWF, World Wrestling Federation, and then it shifted to World Wrestling Entertainment… you listen to guys that have played before and coached before. It’s a different game, and it’s not a negative thing. It’s just built more for the entertainment value maybe than the competitive value.”
Fisher went on to say that this isn’t just a basketball matter, but that all sports have made efforts to become more fan-centric like WWE. The promotion’s new era has certainly favored the experience of attendees, with smaller stages allowing for more fans to attend weekly episodes of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown.
The NBA and WWE
Though two very different industries, many in the NBA have taken notice at the efforts of WWE and its roster. In April of this year, Charles Barkley gave props to The Rock and his work as the ‘Final Boss’ since returning to WWE. During this week’s WWE NXT, Tyrese Haliburton appeared with some of his Indiana Pacers allies in his latest appearance for WWE. While Haliburton focused mostly on NXT and its plans for the October 1, premiere on the CW, he couldn’t help but take aim at the Orlando Magic, eliciting boos from the crowd.
