2025 is shaping up to be the year of high-profile feuds in the NBA! Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal continue to fuel their long-standing rivalry, while internal conflicts between Pat Riley and Jimmy Butler have left Miami fans divided. Adding to the drama, a heated debate over declining TV ratings has pitted Charles Barkley against JJ Redick. Interestingly, Barkley has found an unexpected ally in Byron Scott, the former Showtime Lakers star and 3x NBA Champion, who recently shared his perspective on the matter.

Scott didn’t hold back in identifying who he believes is truly at fault for the drop in viewership. “You can’t put the blame on the media. You know the players play the game, coaches coach the game, right? So you cannot put the blame on the media. The media is going to report what they see, you know, and they’re going to give their opinion on how the game is played.”

On The Byron Scott Podcast, he firmly aligned with Barkley’s stance, pointing out that accountability for declining ratings starts from within the teams themselves. “So the players and the coaches, that’s where you got to start with the blame. I think or even go higher—and it’s the ownerships, you know, or it’s management.” Scott’s take mirrored Barkley’s impassioned critique during his recent rant on Inside the NBA, reinforcing the call for introspection across all levels of the league.

“He (Redick) said something about we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got. Yeah, us, like we’re out there jacking up a hundred threes.” That was not the end.”Remember, I got your Lakers’ games. You can’t hide them flaws they got. You just a dead man walking.” Previously too, Byron Scott agreed with Charles Barkley and his assessment during his interview with another Lakers great, and former teammate of the Showtime Era.

“When you talk about the viewership is down like 48% or something like that which is crazy! And you’re trying to blame it on TNT or the media and all this stuff. I think that’s crazy.” The former Coach of the Year was in conversation with Michael Cooper as they gave their two cents on the rating drama. But not everybody is siding with the Chuckster; some pointed out his flaws as well.

3x All-Star thinks Charles Barkley’s opinion doesn’t matter?

The criticism towards the Emmy award-winning Inside the NBA show always has been their blunt opinions on players. Some players don’t like it, while others take it on their chin. But some players turned analysts like Kendrick Perkins have also stated that the opinions of the Inside crew shouldn’t matter because they don’t watch all the games. Well, another former player, Gilbert Arenas, thinks the same.

“See, that’s the problem with Charles. He don’t actually watch basketball. They telling him what to say in his ear.” On his podcast, the 3x All-Star also added that the Lakers were in a better position than last year. At the time, the Redick and Co. had a 20-15 record meanwhile under Darvin Ham, it was  17-18.

But the ratings debate has affected the All-Star games as well. That’s why the new format has 4 teams and three of them will have an honorary GM from the ‘Inside the NBA’ show. Yes, next month Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith will suit up as the league finds a way to improve their product.