As the NBA season sets to tip off next week, the league itself is in the midst of soaring popularity from the doldrums of last decade.
Meanwhile, over in the NFL, drama seems to be the name of the game. There’s also been a perceived down tick in on-field product around the gridiron.
In discussing this and a whole lot more, new Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta seemed to throw down on the NFL in a big way. During a presser introducing the Landry’s Inc. CEO, Fertitta had this to say.
“I would have been scared to pay $2.2 billion for an NFL franchise at this point,” the businessman said, via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “The NBA is where it’s at.”
Fertitta purchased the Rockets for an NBA-record $2.2 billion prior to the start of training camp. Worth an estimated $3.5 billion, he definitely put a lot on the line to buy the up-and-coming NBA franchise. It’s obviously something the 60-year-old Fertitta wouldn’t have done when it comes to the NFL.
Still the most-profitable and popular sport in North America, it’s interesting that those from other leagues would speak out so feverishly against the NFL. A total of 22 of the NFL’s 32 teams are currently valued at a higher clip than what Fertitta purchased the Rockets for.
As the landscapes for both the NFL and NBA continue to change, one being more in tune with a younger generation, it will be interesting to see what comes of the split. But the NBA’s newest owner definitely threw down the gauntlet on Tuesday.