In a recent social media showdown, renowned analyst Clay Travis and Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban got into a Twitter spat. They found themselves engaged in a back-and-forth which went ugly.
Viewership Discussion Turned Ugly
Travis, in a tweet tagging the billionaire, asked him why the “NFL set an all time viewership record this year – as did NCAA men’s & women’s basketball – but the NBA peaked 25 years ago in viewership.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Hey @mcuban, you love hopping in my mentions. Why did the NFL set an all time viewership record this year — as did NCAA men’s & women’s basketball — but the NBA peaked 25 years ago in viewership? Look forward to hearing your analysis. https://t.co/4XBsB3L0lm
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 6, 2023
Mark Cuban refuted the claim by telling him that “NBA was more watched than every other TV show on TV, particularly in the young demos and the most popular on social media”. He also threw a jibe at the reporter, asking him what would happen to his show if AM radio is taken out of cars and trucks.
Probably because the NFL is more popular than us. But our ratings were up as well.
Let me ask you 2 questions
1. Why was the NBA more watched than every other TV show on tv , particularly in the young demos and the most popular on social media ?
2. What happens to your show…
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 6, 2023
Travis, at this point, still kept the conversation civil, and talked about how Mark Cuban’s claims didn’t hold any water. He said “NBA finals ratings are at a thirty year lows. The data doesn’t lie. NBA ratings peaked 25 years ago. Meanwhile, NFL, CFB & men’s and women’s basketball continues to set record highs.”
1. False. NBA Finals ratings are at thirty year lows. The data doesn’t lie. NBA ratings peaked 25 years ago. Meanwhile NFL, CFB, & men’s and women’s basketball continue to set record highs. https://t.co/4XBsB3L0lm 2. Audio evolves. We get 15 million+ podcast downloads a month. https://t.co/prcXLIwEa9
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 6, 2023
The Outkick boss then linked an article, titled “NBA Is The Original Bud Light. And No One in Mainstream Sports Media Will Tell You That,” which was published on his website. In this column, Travis wrote that NBA has alienated its fans by embracing “woke” agenda. He then proceeds to highlight the dip in viewership following their partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Clay just because you say it doesn't make it true. Show your data.
And yes, our highest eating was 30 years ago. But compare it to the rest of TV shows then and now. https://t.co/OpS89m1rJb
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 6, 2023
Cuban was able to counteract with a couple of sources, asking Clay to show his data, which Clay was unable to provide.
Pivot To Human Rights Issues
After letting go of this, he then proceeds to ask Cuban about NBA’s silence on the human rights issues in China.
3. Social media impressions are mostly bullshit and likely, in my opinion, detract from the popularity of actual NBA games. I think they’re a substitute rather than a supplement for true fandom. Otherwise NBA ratings wouldn’t be collapsing and you’d be crushing the NFL, which is…
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 6, 2023
He wrote ” But while you’re here, let me ask you a question too @mcuban: should Chinese people have basic human rights. I think they should. Do you? Why will the NBA speak out so aggressively on, say, North Carolina bathroom bills and say nothing about China all while pocketing their billions? Shouldn’t basic human rights be a non-negotiable issue for a global brand like the NBA?”
Cuban avoided addressing this issue head on, and chose to say “All people deserve human rights Clay, in all countries”
So what you are saying is that the NBA is by far the most popular sport ?
We agree !
All people deserve human rights Clay, in all countries. https://t.co/sF8V7dtQoV
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 6, 2023
This didn’t stop Travis though, and he pushed Cuban asking why NBA hasn’t released a statement yet, and that he would even be pleased if Cuban’s team, the Mavericks released a statement.
So you disagree with the Chinese communist party putting their people in concentration camps and denying their people basic human rights? We agree! Why not have @nba issue that statement? And if the NBA won’t, why not have @dallasmavs issue that statement? I’d be hugely… https://t.co/hM6bMJhdqV
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 6, 2023
Cuban deflected again, and the conversation went from bad to worse in a jiffy. He shared a screenshot of a statement from Fox, the parent company of Outkick, suggesting that Travis was “woke” too.
Come on Clay, you don’t give a fuck about human rights. You live to play “gotcha”
Your entire media existence seems to be about the wrong things other people are doing rather than the things you are doing.
Rip on everyone else. Except of course your parent company
Your… https://t.co/7V99JrVN1R pic.twitter.com/kKyJjlpn9M
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 6, 2023
The back and forth went on for a while more, as Travis called Cuban’s arguments lazy, and called him a “b***h” for not speaking out against China.
I can’t imagine being a billionaire and still being afraid to say what I actually think because I’m worried about what communist dictators might think of me. What’s the point of having fuck you money if you’re too much of a bitch to even say fuck you to China?
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 6, 2023
Cuban then responded, talking about the futility of name-calling. He stated that people who resort to name-calling usually know that they are on the wrong side of the argument.
What would you say to someone in your family who got called a bitch in a disagreement @ClayTravis ?
I’ll tell you what I would tell my kids.
“Whatever the argument is, you kicked their ass. That’s what people who just got their ass kicked do. They start calling you names.… https://t.co/LNNrt6EJZM
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 7, 2023
Travis didn’t stop here though. He accused Cuban of prioritizing money over everything else, while pretending otherwise, using some very colorful words.
I’d tell my kids to stop being a bitch and stand up to Chinese human rights abuses instead of worrying what evil dictators might do to their money. But I want my kids to stand on principle. You clearly put money over everything while pretending otherwise. Good luck, bud.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 7, 2023
Mark, you’re a billionaire who refuses to stand up to communist China. Bitch is a kind word for you. I hope one day you grow a set of balls. Until then give Chairman Xi my regards next time you guys hang out at the concentration camps. https://t.co/BhKeQpIJuW
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 7, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Mark, you’re a billionaire who refuses to stand up to communist China. Bitch is a kind word for you. I hope one day you grow a set of balls. Until then give Chairman Xi my regards next time you guys hang out at the concentration camps. https://t.co/BhKeQpIJuW
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 7, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
After these barrages of tweets, Cuban has decided not to entertain any more tweets. Otherwise, this conversation seemed impossible to put an end to.
Watch This Story – Despite Threatening Shaquille O’Neal and 76ers Legend On Live Tv, ‘Conscious’ Stephen A. Smith Makes Desperate Public Plea On Threads’
