Goodell doesn’t consider the NBA much of a threat to the NFL.
Roger Goodell has found himself at the center of a growing storm following the leak of a private email, in which he downplayed traditional sports rivals and made comments many have interpreted as a subtle insult to basketball’s LeBron James.
The NFL Commissioner is thought to have wrote the article in the aftermath of Super Bowl LVIII, which has circulated widely after being published by ProFootballTalk and contains the apparent diss to the NBA.
“We’re not competing with the NBA or MLB. Our competitors are Apple and Google,” Goodell writes, a comment has caused widespread backlash among NBA fans and commentators, particularly those who see it as an indirect slight at LeBron.
One user said via X.com, formerly Twitter,, “LOLOLLLOLOL HE JUST LIL BRO’d Adam [Silver, NBA Commissioner].”
However, a second said, “Just wanna remind y’all that a 3rd tier NBA player is more known than Lamar Jackson worldwide.”
Is football bigger than basketball? NFL vs NBA compared
Tensions between the NFL and NBA have simmered for years, especially in relation to viewership and cultural dominance as both battle to become known as the USA’s most popular sport.
That title allows them to pay more money to stars, thus attracting more talented athletes, whilst capturing the next generation of fans to keep income ticking over for 20+ years.
And as it stands, football is winning the race. On Christmas Day 2024, for instance, NFL broadcasts outpaced the NBA by a margin of roughly 4.5 million viewers, solidifying football’s continued reign over U.S. holiday programming.
Analysts noted that Goodell appeared unfazed by the scheduling conflict, which was widely interpreted as a calculated message: the NFL does not see the NBA as a serious threat.
Yet critics accused Goodell of undermining a sport that, despite trailing in domestic ratings, continues to expand its global footprint at a rapid pace with global names such as LeBron, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Indeed, the rivalry between the two leagues has intensified as both adapt to an increasingly digital entertainment landscape. The NFL has implemented changes to boost offense and fan engagement, moves some view as a deliberate emulation of the NBA’s star-centric and fast-paced approach.
That trend, along with global outreach efforts and enhanced media accessibility, has created more overlap between the leagues than ever before. Yet have also been internal discussions within the NFL that suggest deeper admiration for the NBA model.
Whilst the NFL leads in traditional TV ratings, with marquee games like the Super Bowl drawing over 80 million viewers. Yet in the online sphere, it’s far more balanced in the favor of basketball.
The NBA excels in digital engagement, boasting a younger, global audience highly active on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube as the players’ massive online followings amplify league content.
Though the NFL has improved its digital presence through streaming partnerships, it trails the NBA in social media impressions and daily online content consumption.
