The problem with the NBA is that it has that "thug" image, that hip-hop image. They're not getting Will Smiths and LL Cool Js, they're getting people like 50 Cent. It appeals to the ghettos because of how the NBA promotes itself. Every NBA commercial you'll see hip-hop music playing in the background and seeing NBA players celebrate over-control-like.

In the NFL, you see the highlights. Same thing with the MLB. The NBA markets itself to where it is strongest, to the urban homes that watches them. The suburb areas don't have that great of interest in the NBA, that's why no one pays attention to the regular season until a few weeks after the all-star break(namely, after March Madness). The MLB, well...no one pays attention to it until all the winter sports are over like NHL and NBA. The MLB has it all to itself during the summer time.

The NFL seems to demolish competition everywhere. You can put it on during the summer and people still watch.