Although it might not seem like it to those close to me, I actually consider myself to be a bigger baseball fan than I do a basketball fan.
If I had to rank my favorite sports to watch (in order), my list would look as follows:
1. Baseball (MLB)
2. Hockey (NHL)
3. Football (NFL)
4. Soccer (MLS and International Competition)
5. Basketball (NBA)
The problem with that list, and to expand on my first point, most would actually think that what I have listed as number 5 is actually number 1. But that is only because I lived in a city (well, technically near it) that, for the longest time, ONLY had an NBA team. So I used to go to games, watch them on TV, and purchase their gear, amongst other things.
But, I actually VERY MUCH enjoy watching any of the other 4 sports on my list at any given time over the one at number 5. And, yes, it partly has to do with the simple fact that the league has taken a dramatic turn in a different direction than what I was used to when I was growing up.
90s basketball, in my honest opinion, was some of the greatest SPORTS I've ever witnessed in my entire life. Those games were (and still are) the way basketball is always supposed to be played. The league has become way too much of a "player's league". No one wants to dish out a hard foul anymore. Because they all know that if they do, they're either getting a double technical, or will be suspended for a period of time. 90% of the junk that is called a foul today would NEVER pass the test back then, and 90% of what wasn't called a foul back then would NEVER pass the test today (as a matter of fact, a lot of those things would result in flagrant fouls today).
It's very sad to see how far the league has declined since the 90s. And I just hope and pray that I am able to see that style of basketball again in my life. I am not holding my breath, though.
Baseball, to me, is far more enjoyable these days. And, no, I am not saying that because my Giants have been pretty darn successful over the past 10-15 years. I can probably turn on a random baseball game during the middle of the regular season and probably feel confident that I would enjoy watching that way more than I would game 1 of the NBA Finals.
And don't even get me started on postseason baseball. That craps all over postseason basketball ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. Postseason hockey as well...Craps over postseason basketball.
I'm not sure, however, out of both hockey and baseball, which postseason craps over the other. I consider both to be at the top of my list (maybe even 1a and 1b).
A great soccer match (especially at the international level) also craps over any form of postseason basketball.
Oh, and the World Cup...Much better than postseason basketball as well.