NBA stealing some of the NFL’s thunder

So the NBA certainly took the “L” when after the Lakers beat the Warriors 115-113 on Christmas Day, LeBron James took the opportunity to take shot at the NFL:

“I love the NFL … but Christmas is our day.”

And then the ratings came out. The NBA had fantastic numbers, with the Lakers-Warriors drawing 8.45 million viewers.

Then the ratings came out for the NFL games that day: a two-game average of 26.5 million viewers.

While the NFL may own the ratings for its product on the field, no professional sports benefits from the off-the-field action than the NBA. Many say the NBA is a popular as it is because of the drama surrounding the game.

And the NBA is exacting some ratings revenge as the NFL gears up for the biggest day in sports with Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The NBA has stolen most of the thunder in the week before the NFL’s big game, thanks in large part to the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks Saturday night.

It’s the biggest trade, in any sport, that I can think of in a while. Given the stature of both players — perennial all-stars and title contenders — it may be the biggest trade of all time.

All of this just ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles arriving in New Orleans for Super Bowl 57. While the week before the biggest sporting event of the year is usually a snoozefest, there is certainly less Super Bowl talk and way more NBA trade talk.

The NBA trade deadline has taken on even more importance for the Golden State Warriors, who are desperate to do something — anything — to make a playoff run this season.

Those hopes took a hit when it was reported that trade target and former Warriors champion, Kevin Durant, said he did not want to return to Golden State. But late Wednesday afternoon, reports came in saying the Warriors agreed to a trade and a contract extension with Jimmy Butler.

Here in the Bay Area, almost all the radio sports talk has been about the NBA trades, in general, and the Warriors in particular. Kind of makes sense since most in the region can’t really root for either team in the Super Bowl, but don’t tell me the soap opera around sports in general doesn’t add to the NBA’s appeal.

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At least all the attention on the NBA has taken my focus off the Super Bowl, which for the first time that I can remember, am actually thinking about not watching.

Like many, I have Chiefs fatigue and the Eagles have certainly become NFC enemy No. 1 among San Francisco 49ers fans. It was akin to the 2024 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. How do you root for teams you sports hate?

But who am I fooling? What else is there to do on a lazy winter Sunday afternoon? It’s a cultural event at this point. Maybe I won’t pay as close attention as I usually do. Perhaps I won’t sit there with a notepad a scribble down notes throughout the game.

The more I think about it, this would be the perfect time to attend a Super Bowl party. I am usually anti-party because I have found that the focus is on the festivities and not the game.

Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad way to watch it Sunday.

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Given my profession, I’ve been asked several times who will win the Super Bowl.

Before I get to my prediction, let’s break it down.

Kansas City wins: The Chiefs keep it close, the defense gets key stops at the right time and forces Philadelphia to kick field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.

Philadelphia wins: The Eagles have to feed running back Saquon Barkley early and often, they have to score touchdowns and not field goals, and they need to get a lead and not take their foot off the gas.

Who will win? The Chiefs and they’ll use a formula they’ve used to perfection in winning the last two Super Bowls: Kansas City keeps the game close on the scoreboard, they take over at their 20-yard line with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, drive the length of the field and score with less than a minute to play.

Nathan Mollat is in his 24th year covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.